The purpose of this rulemaking is to review the application process for becoming an approved, online course provider; establish both the proficient and gains rate for the appropriate assessment; and ensure online course teachers meet the iNACOL ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-6.0982Florida Approved Online Course Providers

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rulemaking is to review the application process for becoming an approved, online course provider; establish both the proficient and gains rate for the appropriate assessment; and ensure online course teachers meet the iNACOL National Standards of Quality for Online Teaching.

SUMMARY: This rule outlines the process through which organizations and individuals become approved to offer Florida approved virtual courses.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION: The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Approximately 10 private businesses/individuals apply to be a course provider annually. There will be no out-of-pocket expenses for compliance with the rule, except staff time to gather the documentation requested.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1003.499 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.499 FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: June 24, 2015, 8:30 a.m.

PLACE: Tampa Airport Marriott, 4200 George J. Bean Parkway, Duval Conference Room, Tampa, Florida 33607

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Sandy Eggers, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.0982 Florida Approved Online Course Providers.

(1) Purpose. Section 1003.499(2)(b), Florida Statutes (F.S.) requires the Commissioner of Education to annually publish online a list of providers approved to offer Florida approved courses.

(2) Application Form. Form VSP-03, Course Provider Approval Application is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04770), to become effective July 2015 December 2014. A copy of Form VSP-03 may be obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice Division of Public Schools, Office of the Chancellor, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(3) Application. The application to become an approved course provider will be available at http://app4.fldoe.org/courseprovider/ www.fldoe.org/Schools/virtualschools/online catalog.asp beginning November 1, 2014 for the 2015-16 school year and September 1st each year thereafter and must be accessed and submitted electronically. The deadline for filing the application is November 30th for the 2015-16 school year and September 30th each year thereafter.

(a) No change.

1. Summative assessments approved to meet No Child Left Behind (NCLB) accountability requirements or state-administered End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. The demonstrated gains will be sufficient if either proficiency rate or gains rate, as calculated for purposes of school grades under Rule 6A-1.09981, F.A.C., which is incorporated by reference herein, meet or exceed the state mean. A copy of Rule 6A-1.09981, F.A.C., may be obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice Division of Public Schools, Office of the Chancellor, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. Equivalent subgroup credit recovery or remediation course data may be considered in determining the equivalency with the state mean, if provided.

For course subjects not addressed by state assessments:

2. through (b)2.b. No change.

c. How mastery is assessed.

File names for course alignment documents must include the Florida course codes and titles specified in Florida’s most current Course Code Directory incorporated in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C., which is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of Rules 6A-1.09401, 6A-1.09412 and 6A-1.09441, F.A.C., may be obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice Division of Public Schools, Office of the Chancellor, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

3. through (c) No change.

(4) The Department of Education will review each complete application and provide the applicant with a written decision regarding the approval or denial of the application no later than forty-five (45) calendar days after the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Approved course providers will be posted to the website: http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/virtual-edu/florida-approved-online-courses.stml  www.fldoe.org/Schools-virtual-schools.asp.

(5) through (7) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1003.499(3), 1008.31 FS. Law Implemented 1003.499, 1008.31 FS. History–New 12-23-14; Amended____.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Adam Miller, Executive Director, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 18, 2015

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: March 10, 2015