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PROPOSED POLICY REPLACEMENT
6172.6P
INSTRUCTION
VIRTUAL/ONLINE COURSES
The Board of Education believes that education through online courses is an alternative
and effective means of instructing students. In accordance with Board of Education
Policy 6141.32, the Board of Education wants all students by the end of grade 12, to be
independent, competent, responsible, and confident users of information and
technology. Students must also be able to apply technology related skills to acquire
knowledge, collaborate with others, communicate ideas, solve problems, create,
innovate, and pursue personal interests. Therefore, it is the District’s goal to provide
students with rich and ample opportunities to use technology for important purposes in
schools just as individuals use technology in the workplace and in other real-life settings.
The Board views online coursework as satisfying this mission.
A virtual school is hereby defined as an educational organization that offers online
courses at various grade levels through Internet or web-based methods. These schools
can offer courses to enhance, supplement, or enrich the existing curriculum, and can
also provide an alternative means of instruction. Online learning does not require the
student to be physically present in the same location as the instructor or other students.
Online courses provided by virtual schools will be part of Colchester Public Schools
educational program delivery system to increase accessibility and flexibility in the
delivery of instruction. In addition to regular classroom-based instruction, students in
the District may earn credit through virtual schools provided by online courses.
In order to earn credits in meeting the requirements for high school graduation through
the successful completion of online coursework, the Board, in compliance with C.G.S.
10-221a (17) shall ensure, at a minimum, that (a) the workload required by the online
course is equivalent to that of a similar course taught in a traditional District classroom
setting, (b) the content is rigorous and aligned with curriculum guidelines approved by
the State Board of Education and District and, where appropriate, (c) the online course
engages students and has interactive components, which may include, but are not
limited to, required interactions between students and their teachers, participation in
on-line demonstrations, discussion boards or virtual labs, (d) the program of instruction
for such online coursework is planned, ongoing and systematic, and (e) the online
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courses are (1) taught by teachers who are certified in the state or another state and
have received training on teaching in an online environment, or (2) offered by
institutions that are accredited by the Department of Higher Education or regionally
accredited.
The Board of Education recognizes students may benefit from online courses provided
by virtual schools to assist students in obtaining credits necessary to earn a diploma, to
maintain academic standings, or to provide enrichment for those who might require
special courses. Whereas the District will integrate online courses as part of the regular
instruction provided by a certified teacher for students in grades 9-12, it will not use
online courses provided by virtual schools as the sole medium for instruction in any
required subject area.
(cf. 6141.321 - Computers: Acceptable Use of the Internet)
(cf. 6141.1 - Independent Study)
(cf. 6146 - Graduation Requirements)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules, policies and procedures.
10-221a High school graduation requirements. (as amended by P.A. 00-124, An Act
Concerning High School Diplomas and Veterans of World War II, P.A. 00-156, An
Act Requiring A Civics Course for High School Graduation and P.A. 08-138, An Act
Concerning High School Credit for Private World Language Courses, Other Subject
Areas) and P.A. 10-111, An Act Concerning Education Reform in Connecticut.
Students shall be allowed to enroll in virtual/online courses as part of a pre-approved
educational program. In addition to regular classroom-based instruction, students may
earn credit through virtual/online courses.
Virtual/online courses may also serve as an option for students expelled from the
regular school setting, provided educational services are to be continued, and as an
option for students placed on extended homebound instruction.
Students may enroll in virtual/online courses as part of their school program if the
school administrator, student’s guidance counselor, and parents/guardians, have
determined that the student can benefit from a differentiated or accelerated learning
environment only available through a virtual/ online course. To augment and expand
their educational program with an online course, students must fulfill the pre-approval
process.
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POLICY ADOPTED: March 8, 2011
REVISED: December 13, 2011
REVISED: May 12, 2020
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
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