To update Rule 6A-6.0982 to include Form VSP-04 and Form VSP-05. To update Form VSP-03, Online Course Provider Approval Application, incorporated by reference. Having received stakeholder input, the course provider approval application will be ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-6.0982Florida Approved Online Course Providers

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update Rule 6A-6.0982, F.A.C. to include Form VSP-04 and Form VSP-05. To update Form VSP-03, Online Course Provider Approval Application, incorporated by reference. Having received stakeholder input, the course provider approval application will be revised for clarity and efficiency. To include Form VSP-04, Application for Currently Approved Online Course Provider, and Form VSP-05, Online Course Provider Renewal Approval Application into rule.

SUMMARY: The rule outlines the process by 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: The amendment of this rule will not have any impact on transactional costs, regulatory costs or the other factors set forth in Section 120.541(2), Florida Statutes, which are used to determine whether a SERC is needed and whether legislative ratification will be required.

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(3), 1008.31, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.499, 1008.31, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: September 13, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Tallahassee Community College Capitol Center, 300 W. Pensacola Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Sandy Eggers, Virtual Education Director, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1044, Tallahassee, Fl. 32399, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.0982 Florida Approved Online Course Providers.

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

(2)(a) Application Form. Form VSP-03, Online 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-07473), for becoming an approved online course provider, will be used for those online course providers applying for approved status from the Department of Education. Form VSP-03 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become effective October 2017 2016. A copy of Form VSP-03 may be obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(b) Application Form. Form VSP-04, Application for Currently Approved Online Course Provider (DOS link), for a currently approved online course provider to add new courses to their approval, will be used for online course providers applying for additional online course approval status from the Department of Education. Form VSP-04 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become effective October 2017.

(c) Application Form. Form VSP-05, Online Course Provider Renewal Approval Application (DOS link), for renewing an approved provider, will be used for those online course providers applying for renewal approval status from the Department of Education. Form VSP-05 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become effective October 2017. Copies of Form VSP-03, VSP-04, and VSP-05 may be obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(3) Application. The applications to become an approved online course provider, renewal, or for new course approval will be available at https://floridacourseprovider.fluidreview.com http://app4.fldoe.org/courseprovider/ beginning September 1 1st of each year for the following school year and must be accessed and submitted electronically. The deadline for filing the applications is September 30th.

(a) Pursuant to Section 1003.499(3)(a)5., F.S., the applicant must possess prior, successful experience offering online courses to elementary, middle, or high school students as demonstrated by quantified student learning gains or student growth in each subject area and grade level provided for consideration as an instructional program option. Learning gains data for at least one (1) complete school year from one (1) of the following sources must be submitted for each course submitted for approval in this application:

1. State administered Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, including state-administered End-of-Course (EOC) assessments (Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, U.S. History, and Civics). The data will be sufficient if the proficiency rate meets or exceeds the state mean (students must attain a statewide standardized assessment score of Achievement Level 3 or higher) as stated in, 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, 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. Nationally standardized summative achievement tests or nationally standardized interim assessments with multiple assessments to measure learning gains (nationally norm-referenced tests approved by the Department pursuant Rule 6A-6.0960, F.A.C.). The demonstrated gains will be sufficient if either proficiency rate or gains rate meet or exceed the national mean for the specific test. Equivalent subgroup or credit recovery or remediation course data may be considered in determining the equivalency with the national mean, if provided.

3. Proctored EOC assessments or semester examinations that assess Florida standards. Electronic proctoring with appropriately identified students is acceptable. Applicants must submit a signed assurance that non-state level EOC examinations cover Florida course benchmarks. Demonstrated gains will be sufficient if the pass rate on the proctored EOC examination meets or exceeds seventy (70%) percent.

(b) 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 online course providers will be posted to the website: www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/virtual-edu/approved-provider-resources/approved-providers/. http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/virtual-edu/florida-approved-online-courses.stml

(5) through (7) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1003.499, 1008.31 FS. Law Implemented 1003.499, 1008.31 FS. History–New 12-23-14, Amended 7-28-15, 10-30-16,_____.

 

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: August 10, 2017

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 26, 2017