Digital Learning Department

School district online school programs that are providing courses offered by approved online providers may choose to seek approval using an abbreviated process.

Qualification

To qualify, the applicant must meet the online school program definition.

This affiliate approval only covers online courses offered by OSPI-approved online providers. The program must meet all requirements of the approval assurances and the affiliate assurances listed below. In addition, the program may not:

• Modify the content or instruction of the approved provider’s offerings.
• Offer to its students any online course offerings provided by any non-approved online providers.

The district must implement the courses as offered under the provider(s)’s approval by OSPI in the online provider(s)’s approval application, and any variance from the approved course offerings will require separate full approval of the district’s online school program.

If, in addition to using the OSPI approved providers, an affiliate approved program develops courses, then those newly developed courses would be subject to OSPI approval.

Maintaining Approval

When using offerings from multiple approved providers, the program must discontinue use of any provider that fails to maintain its approved status. When using a single approved provider, the district online program's approval status will be directly tied to that of the provider they are using. Any change in the course provider's approval status will also apply to the district’s program unless another approved provider’s offerings can be substituted.

Any local modifications to a provider’s content, instruction, and/or systems would disqualify the district’s program from earning or maintaining its OSPI approval.

Application Process

District Programs wishing use this approval option must still apply independently for OSPI approval. But, their application may omit supporting evidence for how the program addresses the approval criteria; that content would have been previously submitted by the approved online course provider. In this case, the district online program would need to agree to the additional set of assurances listed below and sign off on those through the online application procedure.

Assurances

Timeline

Applicant acknowledges that the program’s approval will take effect in the school year following the application period, and the program will have the same expiration date as the program provider.

Rescindment

Applicant acknowledges that in the event a provider's approval is rescinded the applying program's approval will preclude them from continuing to use courses offered by the rescinded provider.

Program Content

Applicant certifies that only approved online providers will supply the program's online content and that all of the program’s offerings are from approved providers. If, in addition to using the OSPI approved providers, the program develops courses, then those newly developed courses would be subject to OSPI approval.

By agreeing to this assurance and disclosing the name of the approved provider(s) the applicant is working with, the applicant is providing sufficient evidence to meet the approval requirements outlined in WAC 392-502-030.

Learning Management System

Applicant certifies that approved online provider(s) will supply the program's learning management system(s).

Online Teachers

Applicant certifies that approved online provider(s) will supply all of the program's online teachers.

Program changes

The applicant agrees to inform, in writing, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Digital Learning Department of any significant changes to its use of approved provider offerings.