Section 3d: Direct personal contact

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Rule Text

(d) "Direct personal contact" means a one-to-one meeting between a certificated teacher and the student, or, where appropriate, between the certificated teacher, the student, and the student's parent. Direct personal contact can be accomplished in person or through the use of telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, interactive video communication, or other means of digital communication. Direct personal contact:

(i) Must be for the purposes of instruction, review of assignments, testing, evaluation of student progress, or other learning activities or requirements identified in the written student learning plan;

(ii) Must be related to an alternative learning experience course identified in the written student learning plan; and

(iii) Must at minimum include a two-way exchange of information between a certificated teacher and the student. All required direct personal contact must be documented.

Comments

This section defines direct personal contact. Weekly direct personal contact is the second of the three core requirements of ALE, as identified in subsection 4. Students must have one-to-one contact with a teacher at least weekly, and that contact must be for meaningful educational purposes. The contact does not necessarily have to be face-to-face, and can be accomplished using technological tools such as interactive video, phone, and email, but there must be concrete evidence that the teacher and the student had a two-way exchange of information that meets one or more of the specified purposes.

Note: This section was revised prior to the 2012-13 school year. See the revisions.

Common Questions

Q. For younger students, can the contact be between the teacher and the student’s parent?

A. While in many cases it may be appropriate for the parent to be involved in the contact, ultimately there must be one-to-one contact specifically between the teacher and the student.

Last updated: 8/12/2011

Q. Does it count as contact if a student is in attendance for a group class taught by a teacher?

A. Only if the teacher can document weekly one-to-one contact with the student that meets one or more of the specified purposes.

Last updated: 8/12/2011

Q. If a teacher sends out an email message to an email distribution group that includes the student, and the student responds back to the email message, does this meet the definition?

A. An email message sent concurrently to a group of students does not meet the requirement that the contact be a "one-to-one meeting between a certificated teacher and the student" and include a "two-way exchange of information between a certificated teacher and the student."

Last updated: 8/12/2011

Relevant Forms or Samples

Note: These sample forms were developed by a working group that included representation from WALA, the State Auditor's Office, OSPI, and several ALE programs. They are intended to be used as samples, and use of the sample forms provided is not required.