001uh previous in the previous policy the elect Utah electronic high school which is kind of what it used to be called an online electronic high school years ago we have removed that and and um in its place put the state online education program and the SEP is the state program which the state contracts with six providers and those providers are housed in different leas who can apply to be a provider. The access to those provider online providers is open to all schools in the state by state board rule and that does come at a cost to the districts and um the cost is not minimal. So the uh a few years ago just to put it in context we had a different um consortium of online where we partnered with other districts that was came
002at a minimal cost to us but that consortium dissolved so we no longer had that option. So the main option has been the state online education program. So this program um by board rule we have to provide this program as an option an online option to our students. It is open to grades 6 through 12. Most the students taking this um are in the high school but we do have a lot in the the junior highs as well uh that are taking some of these courses online. We have not had a policy to put guard rails in place. it's just kind of been willy-nilly and open. Um so we this policy the intent is to put some guard rails so we can um make sure that the costs aren't so so so we had in
003fiscal year 23 we had about 44 students doing this. This last year we had 265 and so the number of students is increasing. This year we're already at about 180 and we've just reached halfway through the school year. So it is um uh costing the district a lot of money but again um we need to provide this opportunity uh to them uh by board rules. So really the the the the counselors are the ones approving these courses. The students meet with the counselors they they review the courses and then sign them up on and and then the student with their parents signs up with one of the providers as long as it meets their graduation requirements and fits their um their college and career plan. and on their back and I'm the one sort of
004at the district level that approves those courses as well. But really it's the counselors that are are um meeting with the kids and approving them. So the the students can take up to six credits. So in this policy we've we've put a uh six credits a year and that's includes summer and so in this policy we have um board rule allows the district to determine um if they take beyond a full load of courses or not. So in this policy we've added um in part B that uh a student enrolled in the program may not not earn any may earn no more credits in a year than the number of credits a student may earn by taking a full course load during the regular school day. So right now high schoolers can take eight periods.
005So if they can take eight periods and they have um six periods at the high school, they can take no more than two of these courses online. So that's one of the guardrails we've put in uh for this one. So they cannot exceed the eight credits. And again, we've we've highlighted their students must meet their counselors with their counselor and be approved before taking summer courses. They can get on and enroll at any time without counselors. And so they just they just list who their counselor is and it it it goes through. So those conversations between um district and and counselors are are happening as to what those protocols are and making sure they're not approving unless they've met with them. Uh we have in part three the highlight I'm going to highlight this this
006one is students may be eligible to take one extra credit beyond a full year um using the S SOEP. So we have allowed them to go beyond the eight credits as long as that's meeting them. There's a there's a process counselors go through to make sure that they check a box and we have to expand the FTE that we're allotted by the state. So that kid is more than full one.0 full-time, they're beyond that. So we have to make sure we adjust it in the system. So that's in the policy as well. [snorts] Um we've made an exception um that we have required that students take at least two classes at the school before they can enroll in this program. Currently there are some students who are just doing it all on SOEP. They're not
007even at the school. So, we are putting that guardrail in as well uh uh for for that process. >> Quick question there. Yes. If there's some health issues where they're not able to do that through their 504 or whatever accommodations, they would need that to overrule this. Is that right? >> Yes. So, so I mean there's always an individual case by basis. So, if a student's not able to participate, but really teachers have an opportunity to work with those kids as well through Canvas courses. So there are other options besides just this but yeah. >> Okay. >> Um so the uh the program is not open to credit recovery. So we've put that in as well [snorts] um for our district. I mean that's again district level decision. And then we have also closed it
008off for grade replacement purposes. And that means a student who earned a grade in a in a course they didn't like they didn't fail it but they didn't like the grade they can repeat they can take the course again. This a state board rule allows them to do that and we take the higher grade and replace that on their transcript. So we have closed this program off to grade replacement again because it costs a lot of money. And just so you're aware the the cost of a of a half a credit there's a tiered system. core classes cost more than like a PE class or a financial lit class, but the co the average cost for something like this is um it's about $425 a semester credit. And so if you times that by 12,
009which is the max amount they could take, that's $5,400 for that student for just this program online. and the district pays that portion of it. >> Yes, >> the student does pay a very small portion. >> The student pays nothing. It's free. So, this is a free program to this to the students. So, it's a benefit to the students and I mean it it it's a good program because they it gives them um educational opportunities to to to take some courses online, but there is a cost to this and so they can take courses online that we do offer inhouse. Um for whatever reason, they're just doing it online. So, so the intent of the policy and adding this addition to the policy is to kind of start putting together some guidelines so counselors have
010something solid and more definitive for when they're making these decisions with students. So, so this is the first reading. >> I do have a question. So, the process is they they can sign up for whatever they want, but they put a counselor in >> when they do it and then the counselor has to okay it. So, they can't just go register for whatever they want. So the council needs to approve it on their end within 72 hours. >> Okay. >> And so if they don't approve it within 72 hours, it automatically approves it. And so >> Oh, >> that's that was a new board uh state board rule I think two years ago. And so when I go in because we get all the the the emails. So when I go on the system and
011I see a check mark that accounts approved, I assume that they're good to go. So I approve it on my end. And if I don't see approved check mark, I don't approve it. But it'll approve anyway if we if no one rejects it. There is an opportunity for us to reject a course in the system. Like if it doesn't align or they're repeating it or or they put it in for credit recovery, we can go in and reject the courses. >> Um and just another piece of so you're aware of the the how the process works. If a student enrolls in a class and and does an assignment within 20 days and that assignment is graded, they are considered now vested in the system. So we are charged 60% upfront. We are charged the other
01240% once the student completes the course and gets a grade. So that's sort of how that system in a nutshell works as far as what we're charged. So, >> so if they sign up, they do one assignment and then quit and want to take it the next year in school, we've still paid 60% of that. >> Yep. We have and we will be charged another 60% if they enroll the next year in the same course. That's how the system works. So, there's some things that we need to we need to make sure that are clear to our counselors and our counselors have been doing a good job at and we've got a lot of kids now taking these courses, but they haven't had really the the guidance of a policy to say yes or no
013to a to a student or a parent when they sign up for these courses. So, that's what this is for. >> Okay. >> Fascinating. [laughter] And the narrative, it's interesting. Um, this was just discussed at the high school community council meeting. So, there is eyes and awareness because I think the narrative has just been willy-nilly. And so, now that there's more understanding in how these things work and now this policy, >> yeah, >> the conversations because it's pretty well known >> among parents that if you don't want to take this class, you can that this is an option. >> Yeah. And there are other options that we have in house at the high school that they can take on the BYU online campus. So we're s we're sort of encouraging people to go that route.
014But again, we have to present all options. That's by board rule. And so they get they get the final >> say >> and if they do a BYU independent study class, that comes at no well there's a cost up front that we've paid for that. But this class by class by class, it's not the same as this. So, it's way less expensive to do the BYU. >> If they do it in the digital learning lab, it's free to the student. >> If they do it outside of that, we've charged a cost, but that's something we could also reconsider based on how much this is costing as well. So, yeah. So, we're in conversations with the the admin on that as well. So, >> okay. >> And we'll bring this to the study session next week
015that we have. So, if there's additional questions or things that you'd want to look at, >> great. >> All right. Hey, thanks for your time on that. Appreciate it. All right. And then the superintendent. >> Great. Thank you. My first one is just a reminder that um the conflict of interest disclosures need to be to me before the end of January. I did send the digital copy to you. I also brought hard copies if you prefer to fill it out and then just give it to me. U if you fill it out online, just email it to me. I appreciate um board member Anderson sent me hers yesterday, so we do need to get those updated online by statute before the end of January. So, >> and I have a question on that that I
016don't mean to put you on the spot and we can find an answer later, but if something changes midway through the year, is there a way to update this or do you just do it next January? >> Oh, that's a great question. Let me look in code and see if it says currently I know it says it has to be done yearly by between January 1st and January 31st. So, that's a great question. >> All right, I'll find out. Um, and then I would like to request that we go into close session to um specifically discuss personnel and legal. >> All right, Darren. >> Yes. >> I'm a yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. And this meeting is adjourned. >> And we don't need any staff to stay for this. So, you can
017cut loose. >> I'll take one of those. >> Yeah. Need back.