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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 8200 – Digital Education

The purpose of this policy is to specify criteria for digital education courses in HCPSS which will provide students equitable access to instruction and content resources.

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Policy Value Statement

The Board of Education of Howard County (Board) recognizes the value of digital education throughout the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). The Board values the need for expanded access to learning options through supplemental and full-time digital education. Digital education provides the opportunity to access education that might otherwise not be available or provides an alternative academic option for the student.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to specify criteria for digital education courses in HCPSS which will provide students equitable access to instruction and content resources.

III. Standards

  1. Digital Education

    1. HCPSS will implement national, State, and local requirements and best practices when developing, designing, and reviewing digital education courses.

    2. Digital education courses will be aligned with HCPSS academic standards.

    3. Digital education courses will follow the HCPSS system calendar unless otherwise specified.

    4. HCPSS digital education eligibility requirements and course availability will be made available through the HCPSS Catalog of Approved High School Courses.

    5. HCPSS will use HCPSS employees who meet established criteria for digital education to teach digital education courses. When a qualified HCPSS employee is not available, the HCPSS may advertise for and establish a contract with an online learning provider to secure a non-HCPSS employed teacher.

    6. Digital education students are subject to all HCPSS policies. Due to the unique nature of instruction, modifications to grading and reporting, attendance, and academic eligibility may be made and communicated prior to enrollment in accordance with Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School, Policy 9010 Attendance, and Policy 9070 Academic Eligibility for High School Extracurricular Activities.

    7. The Innovative Pathways Program Office will maintain and share the roster of HCPSS students concurrently enrolled with schools.

    8. The Innovative Pathways Program Office will provide program data on the status of digital education as requested.

  2. Supplemental Digital Education

    1. HCPSS will provide enrollment requests and fee information for HCPSS and non-HCPSS supplemental digital education courses.

    2. HCPSS schools must provide close supervision for students while enrolled in a supplemental digital education course at a physical school during the school day.

    3. Alternative programs will provide supervision for students enrolled in supplemental digital education courses outside of the school day as appropriate.

  3. Full-Time Digital Education

    1. A digital education virtual program is subject to all applicable federal and State laws and regulations.

    2. HCPSS employees and students working in or enrolled in a digital education virtual program are subject to the same policies as they would be at HCPSS schools.

    3. Enrollment in a digital education virtual program is only available to current HCPSS enrolled students meeting the criteria outlined in Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment.

    4. Students enrolled in a digital education virtual program are required to maintain their enrollment for the entire school year unless the parent or Innovative Pathways Program Office determines a placement change is necessary.

    5. There are no fees for a digital education virtual program as it is the student’s primary instruction.

    6. Students enrolled in a digital education virtual program will be provided access to HCPSS programs and services such as meals, extracurricular opportunities, special education and related services.

IV. Responsibilities

  1. HCPSS will establish criteria for course instruction for digital education courses.

  2. HCPSS will assist digital education students to access the required hardware, software, and internet connectivity that are available to other HCPSS students.

  3. The Superintendent/designee will use program data to plan future course offerings and course delivery models available to HCPSS students, consistent with the standards outlined in Policy 8000 Curriculum.

  4. The Superintendent/designee will publish eligibility requirements and digital education course availability annually.

  5. The Superintendent/designee will communicate information annually regarding digital education courses to all students, parents, and HCPSS employees.

  6. The Superintendent/designee will provide program data on the status of digital education to the Board and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

V. Delegation of Authority

The Superintendent is authorized to develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of this policy within the limits of this policy.

VI. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  1. Alternative Programs – Intervention programs managed by the Innovative Pathways Program Office.

  2. Asynchronous – A student-centered instructional method in which the student decides the time and place that the instruction is received. Students are provided a syllabus or pacing guide that outlines the learning plan. A teacher guides student learning by providing written feedback and check-ins with students as needed. Student’s complete assignments at their own pace that meet the assignment and course due dates.

  3. Blended Learning – Combines the instructional methods used in asynchronous and synchronous courses where less than 80 percent of instruction is asynchronous.

  4. Digital Education – The use of digital tools and technologies to deliver asynchronous and synchronous courses. There are two (2) types of digital education utilized by HCPSS:

    1. HCPSS (In-House) Digital Education – Blended or synchronous digital education that is taught by a qualified HCPSS employee.

    2. Non-HCPSS (External) Digital Education – Asynchronous digital education that is taught by a qualified non-HCPSS employed teacher.

  5. Digital Education Virtual Program – The education center providing full-time digital education for HCPSS students in grades 6-12.

  6. Full-Time Enrollment – Where a HCPSS student in grades 6-12 takes the majority of their instruction (more than half) through digital education.

  7. HCPSS Employee – An individual who is a permanent or temporary employee whose compensation is paid in whole or part by the Board, including but not limited to, school-based administrators, teachers, substitute teachers, paraeducators, and other school-based and Central Office support staff.

  8. Innovative Pathways Program Office – The office within the Department of Program Innovation and Student Well-Being designated to implement digital education in the HCPSS.

  9. Non-HCPSS Employed Teacher – A certificated teacher hired by an MSDE-approved online learning provider to teach asynchronous courses to HCPSS students.

  10. Online Learning Provider – A third-party vendor, institute of higher education or school district that provides digital education to students.

  11. Parent – Any one of the following, recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the student:

    1. Biological Parent – A natural parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.

    2. Adoptive Parent – A person who has legally adopted the student and whose parental rights have not been terminated.

    3. Custodian – A person or agency appointed by the court as the legal custodian of the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.

    4. Guardian – A person who has been placed by the court in charge of the affairs of the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.

    5. Caregiver – An adult resident of Howard County who exercises care, custody, or control over the student but who is neither the biological parent nor legal guardian, as long as the person satisfies the requirements of the Education Article, §7-101 (c) (Informal Kinship Care) or has been issued a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Verification of Release form entering into a custodial arrangement with the federal government.

    6. Foster Parent – An adult approved to care for a child who has been placed in their home by a state agency or a licensed child placement agency as provided by the Family Law Article, §5-507.

  12. School Day – Day, including a partial day, when a public agency is open and students are required to be in attendance for instruction.

  13. Supplemental Enrollment – Where a HCPSS student in grades 6-12 takes fewer than half of their courses through digital education.

  14. Synchronous – A teacher-directed instructional method which happens in real time, but not necessarily in the same physical location as the student. Synchronous courses are scheduled at a specific day and time.

  15. Virtual Learning – A digital education instructional method where the majority (80 percent or more) of the instruction is synchronous.

VII. References

A. Legal

  • Md. Ann. Code, Education Article, §6-121(a)

  • Md. Ann. Code, Education Article, §7-14A-01-§7-14A-09

  • Md. Ann. Code, Education Article, §7-103.2

  • Md. Ann. Code, Education Article, §7-901, et seq.

  • Md. Ann. Code, Education Article, §7-1002

  • Md. Ann. Code, Education Article, §7-1401-§7-1408

  • COMAR 13A.04.15

B. Board Policies

C. Relevant Data Sources

D. Other

VIII. History

ADOPTED: January 12, 2017

REVIEWED: January 27, 2023

MODIFIED:

  • July 15, 2021

  • June 6, 2024

REVISED:

EFFECTIVE: June 6, 2024

Policy History Key

  • Adopted-Original date the Board took action to approve a policy
  • Reviewed-The date the status of a policy was assessed by the Superintendent’s Standing Policy Group
  • Modified-The date the Board took action to alter a policy that based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee did not require a comprehensive examination
  • Revised-The date the Board took action on a that policy based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee needed a comprehensive examination
  • Effective-The date a policy is implemented throughout the HCPSS, typically July 1 following Board action.