SECONDREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.1903
101STGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVECHRISTOFANELLI.
4414H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsection161.670,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofonenewsectionrelatingtothe
virtualschoolprogram,withapenaltyprovision.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Section161.670,RSMo,isrepealedandonenewsectionenactedinlieu
2thereof,tobeknownassection161.670,toreadasfollows:
161.670.1.Notwithstandinganyotherlaw,priortoJuly1,2007,thestateboardof
2educationshallestablishthe"MissouriCourseAccessandVirtualSchoolProgram"toserve
3school-agestudentsresidinginthestate.Thestateboardofeducationandthedepartment
4ofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshallrefertotheprogramastheMissouri
5courseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramorthe"MCAVSP".TheMissouricourseaccess
6andvirtualschoolprogramshalloffernonclassroom-basedinstructioninavirtualsetting
7usingtechnology,intranet,[and/or] orinternetmethodsofcommunication.Anystudent
8undertheageoftwenty-oneingradeskindergartenthroughtwelvewhoresidesinthisstate
9shallbeeligibletoenrollintheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogrampursuantto
10subsection3ofthissection.
11 2.Forpurposesofcalculationanddistributionofstateschoolaid,studentsenrolledin
12theMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramshallbeincludedinthestudent
13enrollmentoftheschooldistrictinwhichthestudentphysicallyisenrolledundersubsection3
14ofthissection.TheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramshallreporttothe
15districtofresidencethefollowinginformationabouteachstudentservedbytheMissouri
16courseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram:name,address,eligibilityforfreeorreduced-price
17lunch,limitedEnglishproficiencystatus,specialeducationneeds,andthenumberofcourses
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 18inwhichthestudentisenrolled.TheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramshall
19promptlynotifytheresidentdistrictwhen[a]anystudentdiscontinuesenrollment.A"full-
20timeequivalentstudent"isastudentwho[successfullyhascompleted] isenrolledinthe
21instructionalequivalentofsixcreditsperregularterm.EachMissouricourseaccessand
22virtualschoolprogramcourseshallcountasoneclassandshallgeneratethatportionofafull-
23timeequivalentthatacomparablecourseofferedbytheschooldistrictwouldgenerate.Full-
24timeequivalentstudentsshallnotberequiredbytheresidentschooldistricttobe
25presentatanyspecificphysicallocationforanyongoinginstructionalactivity.Innocase
26shallmorethanthefull-timeequivalencyofaregulartermofattendanceforasinglestudent
27beusedtoclaimstateaid.Full-timeequivalentstudentcreditcompletedshallbereportedto
28thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationinthemannerprescribedbythe
29department.Ifaschooldistrictorcharterschoolfailstomakeanypaymentrequired
30undertheprovisionsofthissectioninfullwithinsixtydaysofreceivinganinvoicefor
31suchpaymentfromaprovider,theprovidermaynotifythedepartment.Uponnoticeof
32suchnonpayment,thedepartmentshallimmediatelypaytheMissouricourseaccessand
33virtualschoolprogramthetotalamountinvoiced.Anysuchdepartmentpaymentsshall
34beoffsetbywithholdingtheamountsopaidfromitsnextdisbursementoffundingtothe
35nonpayingschooldistrictorcharterschool.ByNovemberfirstannually,the
36departmentshallprovideawrittenreporttothejointcommitteeoneducation
37detailingeachoccasionduringthepriorschoolyearthataprovidernotifiedthe
38departmentofanunpaidinvoiceunderthissubsection,includingthenameofthe
39provider,thenameoftheschooldistrictorcharterschool,theamountdue,andhow
40quicklythedepartmentmadefullpaymenttotheproviderafterreceivingtherequest.
41Nothinginthissectionshallprohibitstudentsfromenrollinginadditionalcoursesundera
42separateagreementthatincludestermsforpayingtuitionorcoursefees.Afull-timevirtual
43schoolprogramservingfull-timeequivalentstudentsshallparticipateinthestatewide
44assessmentsystemasdefinedinsection160.518.Theacademicperformanceofstudents
45enrolledinafull-timevirtualschoolprogramshallbeassignedtothedesignated
46attendancecenterofthefull-timevirtualschoolprogramandsuchacademic
47performanceshallnotbeattributabletothelocaleducationauthority.
48 3.(1)Aschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallallowany[eligible] studentwhois
49eligibletoenrollinaMissouripublicschoolandwhoresidesinsuchdistricttoenrollin
50Missouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramcoursesof[hisorher]thestudent's
51choiceasapartofthestudent'sannualcourseloadeachschoolyearorinafull-timevirtual
52schooloption[, withanycostsassociatedwithsuchcourseorcoursestobepaidbytheschool
53districtorcharterschoolif:
HB1903 2 54 (a)Thestudentisenrolledfull-timeinandhasattended,foratleastonesemester
55immediatelypriortoenrollingintheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram,a
56publicschool,includinganycharterschool;exceptthat,nostudentseekingtoenrollin
57Missouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramcoursesunderthissubdivisionshallbe
58requiredtohaveattendedapublicschoolduringtheprevioussemesterifthestudenthasa
59documentedmedicalorpsychologicaldiagnosisorconditionthatpreventedthestudentfrom
60attendingaschoolinthecommunityduringtheprevioussemester;and
61 (b)PriortoenrollinginanyMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram
62course,astudenthasreceivedapprovalfromhisorherschooldistrictorcharterschool
63throughtheproceduredescribedundersubdivision(2)ofthissubsection].
64 (2)[Eachschooldistrictorcharterschool] Forstudentsnotenrolledinafull-time
65virtualschool,thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshalladopta
66policythatdelineatestheprocessbywhichastudentmayenrollincoursesprovidedbythe
67Missouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramthatissubstantiallysimilartothetypical
68processbywhichadistrictstudentwouldenrollincoursesofferedbytheschooldistrictanda
69charterschoolstudentwouldenrollincoursesofferedbythecharterschool.Thepolicyshall
70allowforcontinuousenrollmentthroughouttheschoolyear.Thepolicymayinclude
71consultationwiththeschool'scounselorandmayincludeparentalnotificationor
72authorization.[Schoolcounselorsshallnotberequiredtoapproveordisapprovea
73student'senrollmentintheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram.] Iftheschool
74districtorcharterschool[disapproves] believesastudent'srequesttoenrollinacourseor
75coursesprovidedbytheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram,includingfull-
76timeenrollmentincoursesprovidedbytheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschool
77program,isnotinthebesteducationalinterestofthestudent,thereasonshallbeprovided
78inwriting[anditshallbeforgoodcause.Goodcausejustificationtodisapproveastudent's
79requestforenrollmentinacourseshallbeadeterminationthatdoingsoisnotinthebest
80educationalinterestofthestudent.Incasesofdenialbytheschooldistrictorcharterschool,
81localeducationagenciesshallinformthestudentandthestudent'sfamilyoftheirrightto
82appealanyenrollmentdenialintheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramtothe
83localschooldistrictboardorcharterschoolgoverningbodywherethefamilyshallbegiven
84anopportunitytopresenttheirreasonsfortheirchildorchildrentoenrollintheMissouri
85courseaccessandvirtualschoolprograminanofficialschoolboardmeeting.Inaddition,the
86schooldistrictorcharterschooladministrationshallprovideitsgoodcausejustificationfor
87denialataschoolboardmeetingorgoverningbodymeeting.Boththefamilyandschool
88administrationshallalsoprovidetheirreasonsinwritingtothemembersoftheschoolboard
89orgoverningbodyandthedocumentsshallbeenteredintotheofficialboardminutes.The
90membersoftheboardorgoverningbodyshallissuetheirdecisioninwritingwithinthirty
HB1903 3 91calendardays,andthenanappealmaybemadetothedepartmentofelementaryand
92secondaryeducation,whichshallprovideafinalenrollmentdecisionwithinsevencalendar
93days] tothestudent'sparentorguardianwhoshallhavefinaldecision-making
94authority.Theresidentschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallnotbaseany
95recommendationuponfinancialconsiderationsortheofferingofvirtualcoursesor
96programmingbytheresidentschooldistrictorcharterschoolorapreferredprovider.
97Forstudentsenrollinginafull-timeprogram,theschooldistrictorcharterschool
98operatingtheprogramshalladoptapolicythatdelineatestheprocessbywhicha
99studentmayenrollthatissubstantiallysimilartothetypicalprocessbywhichthe
100districtorcharterschoolenrollsanewresidentstudentofthedistrictorcharterschool.
101 (3)ForstudentsenrolledinanyMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram
102courseinwhichcostsassociatedwithsuchcoursearetobepaidbytheschooldistrictor
103charterschoolasdescribedundersubdivision(1)ofthissubsection,theschooldistrict[or],
104charterschool, orthedepartmentshallpaythecontentproviderdirectly[onaprorata
105monthlybasisbasedonastudent'scompletionofassignmentsandassessments] onceper
106semester. Eachsuchpaymentshallbemadeinfullwithinsixtydaysofreceivingan
107invoicefromtheprovider.Ifastudentdiscontinuesenrollment,thedistrict[or],charter
108school, orthedepartmentmaystopmaking[monthly] paymentstothecontentprovider.No
109schooldistrictorcharterschoolshallpay,foranyonecourseforastudent,[morethanthe
110marketnecessarycostsbutinnocaseshallpay]morethanfourteenpercentofthestate
111adequacytarget,asdefinedundersection163.011,ascalculatedattheendofthemostrecent
112schoolyearforanysingle,year-longcourseandnomorethansevenpercentofthestate
113adequacytargetasdescribedaboveforanysinglesemesterequivalentcourse.Paymentfora
114full-timevirtualschoolstudentshallnotexceedthestateadequacytarget,unlessthestudent
115receivesadditionalfederalorstateaid,whichshalladditionallybeincludedinthe
116payment. [Nothinginthissubdivisionshallprohibitaschooldistrictorcharterschoolfrom
117negotiatinglowercostsdirectlywithcourseorfull-timevirtualschoolproviders,particularly
118incaseswhereseveralstudentsenrollinasinglecourseorfull-timevirtualschool.]
119 (4)InthecaseofastudentwhoisacandidateforA+tuitionreimbursementand
120takingavirtualcourseunderthissection,theschoolshallattributenolessthanninety-five
121percentattendancetoanysuchstudentwhohascompletedsuchvirtualcourse.
122 (5)TheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramshallensurethat
123individuallearningplansdesignedbycertifiedteachersandprofessionalstaffaredeveloped
124forallstudentsenrolledinmorethantwofull-timecourseaccessprogramcoursesorafull-
125timevirtualschool.
126 (6)Thedepartmentshallmonitor[studentsuccessandengagementofstudents
127enrolledintheirprogramandreporttheinformationtotheschooldistrictorcharterschool.
HB1903 4 128Providersandthedepartmentmaymakerecommendationstotheschooldistrictorcharter
129schoolregardingthestudent'scontinuedenrollmentintheprogram.Theschooldistrictor
130charterschoolshallconsidertherecommendationsandevaluatetheprogressandsuccessof
131enrolledstudentsthatareenrolledinanycourseorfull-timevirtualschoolofferedunderthis
132sectionandmayterminateoralterthecourseofferingifitisfoundthecourseorfull-time
133virtualschoolisnotmeetingtheeducationalneedsofthestudentsenrolledinthecourse] the
134aggregateperformanceofprovidersandmakesuchinformationavailabletothepublic
135undersubsection11ofthissection.
136 (7)[Schooldistrictsandcharterschools] Virtualschoolprovidersshallmonitor
137individualstudentprogressandsuccess[, andcourseorfull-timevirtualschoolquality,and
138annuallyprovidefeedbacktothedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducation
139regardingcoursequality] andmayremoveastudentundersubsection4ofthissectionif
140theproviderbelievesittobeinthebesteducationalinterestofthestudent.
141 (8)Pursuanttorulestobepromulgatedbythedepartmentofelementaryand
142secondaryeducation,whenastudenttransfersintoaschooldistrictorcharterschool,credits
143previouslygainedthroughsuccessfulpassageofapprovedcoursesundertheMissouricourse
144accessandvirtualschoolprogramshallbeacceptedbytheschooldistrictorcharterschool.
145 (9)Pursuanttorulestobepromulgatedbythedepartmentofelementaryand
146secondaryeducation,ifastudenttransfersintoaschooldistrictorcharterschoolwhile
147enrolledinaMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramcourse[orfull-timevirtual
148school], thestudentshallcontinuetobeenrolledinsuchcourseorschool.
149 (10)Nothinginthissectionshallprohibithomeschoolstudents,privateschool
150students,orstudentswishingtotakeadditionalcoursesbeyondtheirregularcourseloadfrom
151enrollinginMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramcoursesunderanagreement
152thatincludestermsforpayingtuitionorcoursefees.
153 (11)Nothinginthissubsectionshallrequireanyschooldistrict,charterschool,orthe
154statetoprovidecomputers,equipment,orinternetaccesstoanystudentunlessrequiredbyan
155eligiblestudentwithadisabilitytocomplywithfederallaw.
156 (12)Theauthorizationprocessshallprovideforcontinuousmonitoringofapproved
157providersandcourses.Thedepartmentshallrevokeorsuspendortakeothercorrectiveaction
158regardingtheauthorizationofanycourseorprovidernolongermeetingtherequirementsof
159theprogram.Unlessimmediateactionisnecessary,priortorevocationorsuspension,the
160departmentshallnotifytheproviderandgivetheproviderareasonabletimeperiodtotake
161correctiveactiontoavoidrevocationorsuspension.Theprocessshallprovideforperiodic
162renewalofauthorizationnolessfrequentlythanonceeverythreeyears.
HB1903 5 163 (13)CoursesapprovedasofAugust28,2018,bythedepartmenttoparticipateinthe
164Missourivirtualinstructionprogramshallbeautomaticallyapprovedtoparticipateinthe
165Missouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram,butshallbesubjecttoperiodicrenewal.
166 (14)Anyonlinecourseorvirtualprogramofferedbyaschooldistrictorcharter
167school,includingthoseofferedpriortoAugust28,2018,[which] thatmeetstherequirements
168ofsection162.1250shallbeautomaticallyapprovedtoparticipateintheMissouricourse
169accessandvirtualschoolprogram.Suchcourseorprogramshallbesubjecttoperiodic
170renewal.Aschooldistrictorcharterschoolofferingsuchacourseorvirtualschoolprogram
171shallbedeemedanapprovedprovider.
172 4.(1)Asusedinthissubsection,theterm"instructionalactivities"means
173classroom-basedornonclassroom-basedactivitiesthatastudentshallbeexpectedto
174complete,participatein,orattendduringanygivenschoolday,suchas:
175 (a)Onlineloginstocurriculaorprograms;
176 (b)Offlineactivities;
177 (c)Completedassignmentswithinaparticularprogram,curriculum,orclass;
178 (d)Testing;
179 (e)Face-to-facecommunicationsormeetingswithschoolstaff;
180 (f)Telephoneorvideoconferenceswithschoolstaff;
181 (g)School-sanctionedfieldtrips;or
182 (h)Orientation.
183 (2)Afull-timevirtualschoolshallsubmitanotificationtotheparentor
184guardianofanystudentwhoisnotconsistentlyengagedininstructionalactivities.
185 (3)Eachfull-timevirtualschoolshalldevelop,adopt,andpostontheschool's
186websiteapolicysettingforththeconsequencesforastudentwhofailstocompletethe
187requiredinstructionalactivities.Suchpolicyshallstate,ataminimum,thatifastudent
188failstocompletetheinstructionalactivitiesafterreceivinganotificationunder
189subdivision(2)ofthissubsection,andafterreasonableinterventionstrategieshavebeen
190implemented,thestudentshallbesubjecttocertainconsequencesthatmayinclude
191disenrollmentfromtheschool.Priortoanydisenrollment,theparentorguardianshall
192havetheopportunitytopresentanyinformationthattheparentorguardiandeems
193relevantandsuchinformationshallbeconsideredpriortoanyfinaldecision.
194 (4)Ifafull-timevirtualschooldisenrollsastudentundersubdivision(3)ofthis
195subsection,theschoolshallimmediatelyprovidewrittennotificationtosuchstudent's
196schooldistrictofresidence.Thestudent'sschooldistrictofresidenceshallprovideto
197theparentorguardianofthestudentawrittenlistofavailableeducationaloptionsand
198promptlyenrollthestudentintheselectedoption.Anystudentdisenrolledfromafull-
HB1903 6 199timevirtualschoolshallbeprohibitedfromre-enrollinginthesamevirtualschoolfor
200theremainderoftheschoolyear.
201 5.Schooldistrictsorcharterschoolsshall[inform] annuallyissueaseparate
202notificationinformingparentsorguardiansof[their] thechild'srighttoparticipateinthe
203program.Availabilityoftheprogramshallalsobe[madeclear] providedinaclearand
204conspicuousmannerintheparenthandbook,registrationdocuments,andfeaturedonthe
205homepageoftheschooldistrictorcharterschool'swebsite.Suchnoticesshallprovide
206informationontheprograminanimpartialmannerwithoutanyfavortowardone
207providerorprogramoveranother.Anyschooldistrictorcharterschoolthatfailsto
208fullycomplywithanyprovisionofthissubsectionshallbesubjecttocivilpenaltiesinan
209amountequaltoonehundreddollarsforeachcalendardaytheschooldistrictorcharter
210schoolisnotincompliancewiththissubsection,includingreasonableattorney'sfees.
211 [5.]6.Thedepartmentshall:
212 (1)Establishanauthorizationprocessforcourseorfull-timevirtualschoolproviders
213thatincludesmultipleopportunitiesforsubmissioneachyear;
214 (2)Pursuanttothetimelineestablishedbythedepartment,authorizecourseorfull-
215timevirtualschoolprovidersthat:
216 (a)Submitallnecessaryinformationpursuanttotherequirementsoftheprocess;and
217 (b)Meetthecriteriadescribedinsubdivision(3)ofthissubsection;
218 (3)Review,pursuanttotheauthorizationprocess,proposalsfromprovidersto
219provideacomprehensive,full-timeequivalentcourseofstudyforstudentsthroughthe
220Missouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogram.Thedepartmentshallensurethatthese
221comprehensivecoursesofstudyaligntostateacademicstandardsandthatthereis
222consistencyandcompatibilityinthecurriculumusedbyallprovidersfromonegradelevelto
223thenextgradelevel;
224 (4)Within[thirty] tencalendardaysofanydenial,provideawrittenexplanationto
225anycourseorfull-timevirtualschoolprovidersthataredeniedauthorization.
226 [6.]7.Ifacourseorfull-timevirtualschoolproviderisdeniedauthorization,the
227courseprovidermayreapplyatanypointinthefuture.
228 [7.]8.Thedepartmentshallpublishtheprocessestablishedunderthissection,
229includinganydeadlinesandanyguidelinesapplicabletothesubmissionandauthorization
230processforcourseorfull-timevirtualschoolprovidersonitswebsite.
231 [8.]9.Ifthedepartmentdeterminesthatthereareinsufficientfundsavailablefor
232evaluatingandauthorizingcourseorfull-timevirtualschoolproviders,thedepartmentmay
233chargeapplicantcourseorfull-timevirtualschoolprovidersafeeupto,butnogreaterthan,
234theamountofthecostsinordertoensurethatevaluationoccurs.Thedepartmentshall
235establishandpublishafeescheduleforpurposesofthissubsection.
HB1903 7 236 [9.]10.Exceptasspecifiedinthissectionandasmaybespecifiedbyruleofthestate
237boardofeducation,theMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramshallcomplywith
238allstatelawsandregulationsapplicabletoschooldistricts,includingbutnotlimitedtothe
239Missourischoolimprovementprogram(MSIP),annualperformancereport(APR),teacher
240certification,andcurriculumstandards.
241 [10.]11.Thedepartmentshallsubmitandpubliclypublishanannualreportonthe
242Missouricourseaccessandvirtualschoolprogramandtheparticipationofentitiestothe
243governor,thechairandrankingmemberofthesenateeducationcommittee,andthechairand
244rankingmemberofthehouseofrepresentativeselementaryandsecondaryeducation
245committee.Thereportshallataminimumincludethefollowinginformation:
246 (1)Theannualnumberofuniquestudentsparticipatingincoursesauthorizedunder
247thissectionandthetotalnumberofcoursesinwhichstudentsareenrolledin;
248 (2)Thenumberofauthorizedproviders;
249 (3)Thenumberofauthorizedcoursesandthenumberofstudentsenrolledineach
250course;
251 (4)Thenumberofcoursesavailablebysubjectandgradelevel;
252 (5)Thenumberofstudentsenrolledincoursesbrokendownbysubjectandgrade
253level;
254 (6)Studentoutcomedata,includingcompletionrates,studentlearninggains,student
255performanceonstateornationallyacceptedassessments,comparativedatatogainsand
256performancebystudentsinprioreducationalsettings,four-andfive-yeargraduation
257rates,creditstatusuponenrollment,andprogresstowardsgraduation.Ifpossible,data
258shallbepresentedbysubjectandgradelevelperprovider.Thisoutcomedatashallbe
259publishedinamannerthatprotectsstudentprivacy;
260 (7)Thecostspercourse;
261 (8)Evaluationofin-schoolcourseavailabilitycomparedtocourseaccessavailability
262toensuregapsincourseaccessarebeingaddressedstatewide.
263 [11.]12.ThedepartmentshallberesponsibleforcreatingtheMissouricourseaccess
264andvirtualschoolprogramcatalogprovidingalistingofallcoursesauthorizedandavailable
265tostudentsinthestate,detailedinformation,includingcostspercourse,aboutthecoursesto
266informstudentenrollmentdecisions,andtheabilityforstudentstosubmittheircourse
267enrollments.
268 [12.]13.Thestateboardofeducationthroughtherulemakingprocessandthe
269departmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationinitspoliciesandproceduresshallensure
270thatmultiplecontentprovidersandlearningmanagementsystemsareallowed,ensuredigital
271contentconformstoaccessibilityrequirements,provideaneasilyaccessiblelinkforproviders
272tosubmitcoursesorfull-timevirtualschoolsontheMissouricourseaccessandvirtualschool
HB1903 8 273programwebsite,andallowanyperson,organization,orentitytosubmitcoursesorfull-time
274virtualschoolsforapproval.Nocontentprovidershallbeallowedthatisunwillingtoaccept
275paymentsintheamountandmannerasdescribedundersubdivision(3)ofsubsection3ofthis
276sectionordoesnotmeetperformanceorqualitystandardsadoptedbythestateboardof
277education.
278 [13.]14.Anyruleorportionofarule,asthattermisdefinedinsection536.010,that
279iscreatedundertheauthoritydelegatedinthissectionshallbecomeeffectiveonlyifit
280complieswithandissubjecttoalloftheprovisionsofchapter536and,ifapplicable,section
281536.028.Thissectionandchapter536arenonseverableandifanyofthepowersvestedwith
282thegeneralassemblypursuanttochapter536toreview,todelaytheeffectivedate,orto
283disapproveandannularulearesubsequentlyheldunconstitutional,thenthegrantof
284rulemakingauthorityandanyruleproposedoradoptedafterAugust28,2006,shallbeinvalid
285andvoid.
âś”
HB1903 9