Idaho works to carry out online class requirement


Idaho has just become the latest state to require students to take online education courses before graduating.

Now that Idaho has approved a requirement that high school students take at least two credits online, officials are working on plans for a statewide contract expected to include a list of providers for districts to choose from when selecting virtual classes.

Idaho also will phase in mobile computers, such as a laptops or iPads, for every high school teacher and student while making online education courses a graduation requirement under sweeping new education changes backed by public schools chief Tom Luna and the governor.

A task force aimed at helping implement Luna’s plan to increase technology in the classroom met Nov. 7 at the Idaho Capitol in Boise. The goal is to provide schools with a list of online course providers approved and contracted by the state to offer virtual classes to Idaho students, Luna said.

“We want to set up a bank of online providers that have negotiated a statewide contract price. That’s going to drive the cost down,” Luna said during an interview with The Associated Press. “And then, school districts will be able to create a catalog of online courses for their students to choose from.”

See also:

More states look to online learning for students

Virtual learning acquisitions shake up marketplace

iNACOL updates its online teaching standards

But under the education changes, high school students also will be allowed to enroll in any state-approved online class starting next fall—with or without permission from their school district. The company that provides that online course then will be entitled to two-thirds of the state funding sent to the school district for that student for that class period.

At least one lawmaker on Luna’s task force has expressed concerns that companies picked to provide the online education courses could, in some cases, tap more state funding from some of Idaho’s smaller school districts. That’s because they receive more money per student under Idaho’s funding formula.

For example, an online course company could collect amounts that range from $210 per semester for offering a class to a student in Boise, the state’s largest population center, to $733 for a student in Midvale, a rural town of less than 200 residents, according to state estimates.

This new fractional funding formula would apply only in cases where the student, or his or her parent, has selected a course outside of those offered by the companies that have been contracted by the state for a set amount. State Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, serves on Luna’s task force and has questioned the apparent disparities under the funding formula and whether they could make it more appealing for an online education provider to market its virtual classes to parents in rural areas of the state.

“I’m still wondering how all this will work, given the parental choice,” Jaquet said.

But Luna counters that it’s very unlikely that a parent or student will venture outside the list of courses provided by their school district. He is also skeptical that online curriculum companies will “cherry pick” students when Idaho is offering a statewide contract.

The task force is expected to send out a request for information from potential online course providers later this week, said Jason Hancock, who serves as Luna’s deputy chief of staff. A request for proposals from online vendors would go out to bid early next year.

“We’re probably looking at some time in March, maybe April,” Hancock said.

Proponents of online education said the virtual classes will help the state save money and better prepare students for college. But critics said they’ll replace teachers with computers and shift state taxpayer money to the out-of-state companies that will be tapped to provide the online education courses and laptops.

The online class requirement was approved last week by the state Board of Education and will go before Idaho lawmakers for review in the 2012 session, which starts in January. It will apply to students entering the 9th grade in fall 2012.

See also:

More states look to online learning for students

Virtual learning acquisitions shake up marketplace

iNACOL updates its online teaching standards

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