School Account
Sign-in
DLD Account
Sign-in | Create an Account
Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is the Digital Learning Department and when was it established?
As a result of Substitute Senate Bill 5410, OSPI's Digital Learning Department (DLD) was established in 2009 through a partnership of the Digital Learning Commons and OSPI. The department disseminates information about online learning and provides access to high-quality online school programs, online courses, resources, and training for K-12 students, educators, and parents.
How is the DLD different from online course providers and online school programs?
The DLD is not a school and, therefore, does not award credits or diplomas. The DLD exists to support schools and educational programs across Washington. Students, educators, and parents can make use of a range of online resources to personalize student learning. Resources include educator-reviewed and safe reference materials, supplemental curricula to enhance instruction, and 250+ online courses in a variety of subjects, including foreign languages and advanced-level courses. The DLD also provides information and access to online school programs in Washington.
Participating as a DLD School
What resource packages does the DLD offer schools?
There are two ways your school can participate in DLD online packages. The Library Package, which includes access to four world-class research databases, is $5.50 per student. The Courses Package has no upfront fees, but per course enrollment fees do apply. For more details and resource descriptions, see the School Package Options.
Can I see a demo of the DLD resources?
You can explore an online course and view sample courses in a variety of subjects from several different course providers. A demo account for other DLD resources is available by request. Send us an email or call 206.616.9940, and we'll set you up to explore the DLD Library Package. You can also contact the DLD to request a personalized tour of the resources.
Online Courses
How is high school credit counted for an online course?
All course providers offer credit that can be accepted at the discretion of the school principal or other district designee.
Do students receive official transcripts when they complete an online course?
Online course providers are not diploma-granting schools and therefore do not award official transcripts. All course providers, however, issue final grade reports—available to both the student and the student's Teacher/Mentor. This report should be used by the school to determine the credit and grade to be awarded on the student's local transcripts.
Are there limits to the number of online courses a school can enroll students in?
There are no limits to online courses outside of what each school or student can afford.
Best practices suggest students ease into the number of online courses they take; however, schools ultimately decide how many classes a student can take.
What if my school already offers a class that is also available through the DLD?
Each school establishes a policy for which courses are made available to its students. Some schools decide not to offer or award credit for online courses that duplicate classes taught at the school. Other schools do not restrict which online courses students can take.
How do schools pay for online courses?
Some schools have set aside specific funding for courses. And some schools are looking closely at FTE funds that might be gained by retaining students because of their enrollment in online courses. Other schools use a cost-share model, where students are responsible for some of the cost. Some schools have students pay the full course amount up front; if courses are completed, students are reimbursed all or most of the cost. If they drop the course (or fail), they are reimbursed some or none of the cost.
How can I make sure that my student will earn credit for an online course taken without coordination with the school and/or the DLD?
Students hoping to earn credits from online courses taken independently of their school’s support should first confer with the school to make sure school/district policies will allow the student to earn credit locally.
Online School Programs
What is an online school program?
An online school program is a full- or part-time sequential program run by a Washington state school district, serving students in grades K-12. Students are taught by online instructors and the content is primarily delivered through the internet. Online school programs provide a very flexible, differentiated environment for learners. Learn more in our Online School Programs section.
What is an approved program?
The DLD maintains a list of approved providers, all of whom have received approval for the 2009-10 school year based on their prior use and sanctioning by the Digital Learning Commons. The DLD is collaborating with the state board of education to develop and implement approval criteria and to create a process for approving multidistrict online providers. Periodic updates on the new approval criteria and processes will be
What is the difference between an online school program and an online course?
See our comparison chart to learn more about the similarities and differences between these two options.
Resources
Does the DLD provide free resources to schools in Washington?
Yes, many of the resources on the site are available at no cost to schools in Washington state, including Mathcasts, Thinkfinity, and a number of links to free college and career planning sites. Other resources, like the library databases, do require an annual subscription fee.
Technology
What types of technology are needed to access DLD resources?
The specific technology requirements vary depending on the course or resource being used. Most of the DLD's offerings are web-based and only require computers that are able to run current web browsers and common browser plug-ins. More detailed technical specifications can be found in the Technology section.
Does each student need an email address to use online courses?
Each student enrolled in an online course will need access to the Internet. The DLD will give each student an email address.