Virtual Instruction

I-160-P Virtual Courses
Students residing within the District who are under the age of 21 and in grades
Kindergarten through twelve may be eligible to enroll in the Missouri Course Access
Program (MOCAP) and other virtual courses at no expense.
Full-Time Virtual Enrollment Process

1. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will adopt a policy establishing the process by which an eligible student may enroll in a full-time virtual program of their choice. Starting August 28, 2022, student and parents will direct their requests for full-time enrollment to the virtual provider.

Part-Time Virtual Enrollment Process

1. Prior to enrolling in MOCAP, the student must be enrolled full-time in a public school and reside in Missouri

2. The enrollment process will be substantially similar to the District’s current enrollment process for other than virtual courses.

3. The District’s designee must approve a student’s request to enroll prior to the student’s enrollment in a MOCAP course.

4. Students who transfer into the District while enrolled in a MOCAP course or program will continue to be enrolled in the course or program upon enrollment in the District.

5. Transfer students who have previously gained credits through successful passage of approved courses under MOCAP shall be accepted by the District.

Approval

1. The District will approve an enrollment request as long as the student meets the eligibility requirements and enrollment in the requested course or program is the in student’s best educational interest. The decision will be consistent with the determination that would have been made for such course request under the process

   the District student would enroll in a similar course offered by the District. However, such determination may consider the student’s prior participation in virtual courses.

2. Parents, counselors and others may be consulted to determine whether MOCAP or other virtual courses serve a student’s best educational interest.

   • The “best educational interest” determination will be made on a case-by-case basis and will include facts and circumstances regarding an individual student’s situation.

3. Available opportunities for in-person instruction will be considered prior to

Moving a student to virtual courses.

1. In general, students with disabilities may enroll in MOCAP and other virtual courses using the same process applicable to other students. However, for students with disabilities served under the provisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 (504) (see District Policy I-125-P), the student’s individual education program (IEP) or 504 team must consider whether virtual courses or virtual school would serve the student’s best educational interest, and if so, whether supports and services or accommodations are necessary in order for the student to participate.

2. Enrollment in MOCAP courses will not exceed full-time enrollment in the District.

3. Information regarding MOCAP and District-sponsored virtual courses will be included in Parent/Student Handbooks, student registration materials, and on the District’s website.

Denial, Appeal, Removal

1. Refusal to grant approval for a student to enroll in MOCAP courses will be for good cause and a determination that it is in not in the student’s best educational interest.

2. Appeals of course denials will be handled in the same manner as denials for students seeking to enroll in courses offered by the District.

3. If a student is approved to enroll in a virtual course or program, the District will monitor a student’s progress. If the course is not meeting the educational needs of the student enrolled in the course, the District may remove the student from the course. Recommendations from the course provider and/or DESE regarding the student’s continued enrollment in the program will be considered before a student is removed.

Adoption Date(s): July 27, 2023; Updated August 24, 2023