Criteria for district use of non-approved courses

Draft Document

The content below is in draft form, and is subject to change. The final version will be posted by January 1st, 2010.

As per SSB 5410, Section 7.2, schools may claim state funding for students participating in courses from non-approved providers if the courses meet all of the following conditions/assurances:

  • The course is in a subject matter in which no courses have been approved.
  • If it is a high school course, the course meets Washington high school graduation requirements specified under WAC 180.51.
  • The course provider's web systems meet conformance level A of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
  • All instruction is delivered by certified instructors placed by Highly Qualified (No Child Left Behind ) requirements.
    • When ALE rules apply, courses must be taught by WA certified instructors.
  • The course provider has been accredited.
  • The course, as advertised, is eligible for high school credit per WAC 180.51.050.
  • Course content is aligned with at least 70% of the current applicable grade/subject area Washington State standards. For courses whose content is not included in state standards, content is aligned with at least 70% of nationally accepted content standards set for the relevant subjects.
  • Courses in the following areas meet the credit/content requirements as outlined in their respective WACs:
  • Advanced Placement courses have all been approved via the College Board AP Course Audit.
  • The course data management systems ensure all student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

School districts wishing to claim funding for a course from a non-approved provider must document their review of the criteria listed above. Information about this requirement will be included in the district model policy and procedures currently being developed by WSSDA and OSPI.