Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes school districts to adopt programs for e-learning days.

Highlights:

• Authorizes school districts that provide virtual courses to contract qualified teachers and other qualified instructional personnel (Sec. 1231).

• Requires the department to develop a program for the use of e-learning days that meet certain requirements, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1851b):

• All pupils enrolled in the school district implementing the program have access to the program;

• The specific needs of each pupil participating in the program are taken into account, including, but not limited to special education and English language learners;

• All teachers and staff participating in the program have access to all necessary hardware or software for participation in the program;

• The program offers at least 5 hours of instructional content or schoolwork on each e-learning day;

• The program provides for, at minimum, computers, internet, and other forms of electronic communication that can be accessed from home or other appropriate remote facilities by all participating pupils, teachers, and staff, or non electronic materials if pupils, teachers, and staff are not provided access to necessary technology;

• The program provides for a method to verify each pupil’s participation and a method for tracking pupil progress; and

• The program provides for training in the use of the program for pupils, teachers, and staff.

• Authorizes school districts to adopt, renew, and implement a program developed by the department beginning with the 2021-2022 school year (Sec. 1851b).

• Requires school districts to submit their adopted or renewed programs for e-learning days to the department not later than 14 days following the adoption or renewal, and to make the programs accessible through the transparency reporting link on the school district website (Sec. 1851b).

• Specifies that adoption or renewal of a program for e-learning expires after 1 year (Sec. 1851b).

• Requires a public hearing with opportunities for public comments to be held before the proposed adoption or renewal of a program for e-learning (Sec. 1851b).

• Authorizes pupil instruction and interaction between pupils and teachers participating in a program for e-learning through the use of electronic communication, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1851b):

• The internet;

• Telephones;

• Text messaging; and

• Online chat room platforms.

• Requires the superintendent of public instruction, if the governor issues an executive order declaring a state of emergency or disaster that requires one or more public schools to close, to send a notice of required closures to the school district that operates each affected school, and requires the school to provide pupil instruction electronically or remotely through any program adopted or renewed under this section during the closure period (Sec. 1851b).

• Defines “e-learning day” as a day on which pupil instruction is received electronically or remotely through a program adopted or renewed under this section while pupils are not physically present at the school due to a school closure or a preplanned e-learning day (Sec. 1851b).

• Requires preplanned e-learning days to be identified in the school calendar for each school year (Sec. 1851b).

Full Bill Text