Digital Learning Department

Approved providers are subject to the monitoring and rescindment process.

Monitoring and rescindment triggers

OSPI will accept complaints and feedback about approved providers through a web page on the DLD website.

A rescindment process can be triggered in the following ways:

• When OSPI staff deems a formal complaint filed against the provider with the Digital Learning Department as warranting investigation.
• Failure to meet approval/renewal criteria and processes deemed fulfilled at time of last approval/renewal or failure to uphold required assurances.

Immediate rescindment will go into effect if the provider is deemed no longer able to carry out the program/courses described in the approval application and/or conditions exist that jeopardize the academic or fiscal integrity of the provider/program or compromise the health and safety of students or staff.

Grandfathered providers are subject to rescindment prior to their official approval (by 8/31/2012) for failure to maintain the criteria outlined in SSB 5410, section 3.3 including:

• NAAS accreditation or accreditations from other approved agencies as identified by OSPI.
• Washington certification status of online instructors.
• Failure to provide to the DLD the information required by SSB 5410, section 4.1.

Rescindment process

Providers will be notified if there is substantial evidence that they are not meeting one or more of the approval conditions and that rescindment is being considered. The letter will state the specific areas of concern and the provider will be invited to submit a corrective action plan with a timeline to address the specific areas of concern. If the provider does not respond to the rescindment notice, rescindment goes into effect within 15 business days.

OSPI will review the corrective action plan and make a determination on whether it satisfactorily addresses the specific areas of concern, whether additional actions are necessary, or is substantially incomplete and the approval should be immediately rescinded. Before making this decision, the provider will have the opportunity to clarify and adjust the plan.

Recognizing the serious nature of rescindment and its potential impact on students, districts and providers, OSPI will only rescind approvals if the provider is unwilling to take the necessary corrective actions to bring the courses/programs in compliance with the approval criteria/assurances.

If OSPI determines that a provider approval must be rescinded, the implementation of the rescindment will, to the greatest extent possible, be timed to prevent unnecessary disruption to the education of the students. Enrollments, including second semesters of year-long courses, received by the provider on or before the date of rescindment are not affected by the rescindment; program enrollees will be able to finish the school year as planned.

Rescinded providers are able to submit for re-approval during subsequent approval application periods.