Middletown Public Schools                                                                                  No. 6010

VIRTUAL/ONLINE COURSES

Middletown Public Schools support online education as a viable methodology  for the delivery of direct instruction. Online education should provide an opportunity  for students to accelerate curriculum, to complete curriculum, and to provide learning  opportunities in areas not available to the student due to scheduling or uniqueness of  offering. Online education should also be promoted as a tool for staff development. 

Considerations for online education may include: 

1. The course is not offered at the high school; 

2. Although the course is offered at the high school, the student will not be able to take  it due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict; 

3. The course will serve as a supplement to extend instruction to those students who  would be unable to attend classroom instruction; 

4. The student has been expelled from the regular school setting, but educational  services are to be continued; or 

5. In unique situations where there is consensus among student, teacher, guidance staff,  and administrative staff that, due to the specific needs of the student, whether it be  to accelerate and reinforce learning or for advanced learning opportunities, the  student would require an additional service. 

6. Students taking such courses must be enrolled in the district. 

7. The course is taken for curriculum enrichment for gifted and talented middle school students. 

Recommendations for taking online courses may come from the student, a guidance counselor, a teacher, or the parent. The school principal, in consultation with  staff, shall make the final determination as to the acceptability of the course.  Consideration by the principal and school staff should include the educational workload  of the student, the eligibility of the student to take such a course, equitable access, and  prerequisites. 

Students and parents should be made aware annually of this policy and its intent  to promote and encourage alternative learning opportunities for students utilizing  technology.

Provision for monitoring and assessment of the progress of students who are  provided with online learning opportunities should be included in the implementation  plan. The school shall establish standards and criteria of performance along with a  mechanism of assessment for any student involved in the online education program.  The grading policy and course weighting of any online course shall be consistent with  established school policies for comparable courses. 

First Reading: February 15, 2007 

Second Reading & Approval – March 15, 2007

Review - January 22, 2026

3 Year Review Due - January 2029