The District will annually permit any eligible student, under the age of twenty-one (21) who resides in the District, to enroll in Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program (“Program”) courses as part of the student’s annual course load. Course costs will be paid by the District provided that the student:

1. Is enrolled full-time and has attended a public school, including a charter school, for at least one (1) semester immediately prior to enrolling in the Program. However, if the reason for a student’s non-attendance in the prior semester is a documented medical or psychological diagnosis or condition which prevented attendance, such non-attendance will be excused; and
2. Prior to enrolling in the Program course has received District approval through the procedure set out in this Regulation 6190(A).

Each Program course successfully completed will count as one class and will receive that portion of a full-time equivalent that a comparable course offered by the District generates.

A. Enrollment

 The enrollment process for participation in the Program will be substantially similar to the enrollment process for participation in District courses. The enrollment period will be ten (10) school days prior to each semester.  Students who fail to timely enroll will be permitted to apply the next semester.  New students enrolling during the school year will have five (5) school days from school enrollment to apply for a Program Course under this Regulation.  The process may include consultation with a school counselor. However, consultation does not include the counselor’s approval or disapproval of enrollment in the Program.  However, the District has ten (10) business days from the date the application was submitted to the District to approve or deny the application.

When a District school denies a student’s enrollment in a Program course or enrollment as a full-time Program student, the District will provide in writing a “good cause” reason for the denial.  Such good cause determination will be based upon a reasonable determination that the enrollment is not in the student’s best educational interest.  Where enrollment is denied, the following process will be utilized:

1. The District will notify the student and the student’s family in writing of the right to appeal denial of Program enrollment to the Board of Education; and
2. The family will be given an opportunity to present the reasons for their appeal to the Board at an official Board meeting; and
3. The District, at such Board meeting, will provide the basis for its determination that Program enrollment was not in the student’s best educational interest; and
4. The written submissions by the family and the District will be incorporated into Board minutes; and
5. The Board’s written decision and the reason for that decision will be provided to the family within thirty (30) days of such Board meeting; and
6. The family may appeal the Board’s determination to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Department shall provide their decision within seven (7) calendar days.

Program credits previously earned by a student transferring into the District will be accepted by the District.  Students who are participating in a Program course at the time of transfer shall continue in the course with the District assessing future monthly payments.

Home school and private students wishing to take additional courses beyond their school’s regular course load will be permitted to enroll in Program courses under an agreement, including the student’s payment of tuition or course fees.

B. Payment for Program Courses

Cost associated with Program courses shall be paid by the District for students satisfying subsection (1) of this Regulation 6190.  Payments will be made on a monthly cost basis prorated over the semester enrolled. Payments will be made directly to the Program contract provider. Such payments per semester will not exceed the market cost, but in no case more than 7% of the state adequacy target per semester. In the event a Program participant discontinues their enrollment, the District will discontinue monthly payments made on the student’s behalf.

In the case of a student who is a candidate for A+ tuition reimbursement and who is enrolled in a Program course, the District will attribute no less than ninety-five (95%) percent attendance to any such student who has successfully completed such Program course. K-8 Districts will be required to pay the District for Program attendees residing in the K-8 District.

C. Program Course Evaluation

The District will consider recommendations made by DESE relative to a student’s continued Program enrollment.  Based in part on DESE’s recommendations, the District may terminate or alter a course offering if the District, in its reasonable discretion, determines that the Program course(s) is not meeting the student’s educational needs.

Independently, the District will monitor student progress and success in Program courses.  The District will annually provide DESE with feedback regarding Program course quality.

The District is not obligated to provide computers, equipment or internet access except for eligible students with a disability in compliance with federal and state law.

The District will include students’ enrollment in the Program in determining the District’s average daily attendance (ADA).  For students enrolled in the Program on a part-time basis, ADA will be calculated as a percentage of the total number of Program courses in which the student is enrolled by the number of courses required for full-time students. 

D. Notice

The District will inform District parents of their child’s right to participate in the Program.  Opportunity to participate in the Program will be provided in parent handbooks, registration documents and on the homepage of the District’s website.