Topics to Consider When Setting Local Policies for Internet-based Courses

The Student Population

• Which students in your district will be able to take the courses? (Consider those at-risk, expelled, homebound, credit deficient, with special education needs, teen parents, with scheduling conflicts, wanting advanced coursework, remediation, etc.)
• Can students from other districts take these courses through your district?
• Can non-public students take these courses from you?
• Can home-schooled students take these courses through your district?

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Course Considerations, Requirements and Restrictions

• Is the objective of the Internet courses to supplement, expand or supplant local offerings?
• How will the courses align with local standards and offerings?
• How many courses can one student take at one time? (At WVS we recommend no more than 2 at a time)
• When can a student start a course? (At WVS, students can start a course almost any time.)
• How long can a student take to complete a course?
• Is progress required in the course for the course to remain active?
• How will credits and grades be determined for Internet-based courses?
• Can Internet-based courses count for valedictorian and salutatorian status?
• Can students take the 2nd semester of a course while re-taking the 1st semester of the same course?
• If a student transfers to another school or returns to a home school from an alternative school, can he/she take the incomplete course along?

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Administrative Issues

• What counseling will take place before a student takes an Internet course?
• Who will give Administrative approval for participation, payment and credit?
• How will a student register for a course? (WVS requires a district representative to register the student see Enrollment Instructions)
• Can a student work on a course at home? During the school day at school?
• What student support will the district provide to the students in Internet courses? Who does the student contact if he/she needs additional help?
• If students pay for their courses, what is the refund policy?
• What is the withdrawal policy? (WVS has a 14-day withdrawal/drop policy. Courses dropped prior to the 15th day of enrollment will not be charged.)
• What data will be collected and by whom?

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Technology Access

• Will students be allowed to access the Internet at school?
• Will students be allowed to have a school e-mail address?
• Is there a technology support contact person if the student has technology-related
  questions?
• What about firewall/proxy server issues?