Frequently Asked Questions About Starting an Online Program

Questions and Answers from the Application Workshops:

Other Questions and Answers:

Who should apply for Certification of an Online Program?
What is the difference between an online program and an online supplemental program?
Who is the "signature" Authorizer?
What is the timeline for feedback and re-submittal of the application?
What is the structure of the Application for Certification?
Who will review the Application for Certification?
What is the MOU Process and how does it work?

1. Who should apply for Certification of an Online Program?

Any district that anticipates that its Online Program will be serving more than 10 students from other districts should apply for certification. If a district is unsure about how many out-of-district students it will serve, then it should self-cap at ten 'out of district students' or apply now in anticipation of growth. Once a program receives certification, the program remains certified indefinitely, as long as the school/program remains in good standing.

2. What is the difference between an online program and an online supplemental program?

According to Colorado Revised Statute § 22-30.7-102:

An "On-line program" means a full-time on-line education program or school authorized pursuant to this article that delivers a sequential program of synchronous or asynchronous instruction from a teacher to a student primarily through the use of technology via the internet in a virtual or remote setting. "On-line program" does not include a supplemental program.

A "Supplemental program" means a program that offers one or more on-line courses to students to augment an educational program provided by a school district, charter school, or board of cooperative services.

3. Who is the "signature" Authorizer?

An online program may be authorized by a district, two districts, a BOCES, or a charter. If it is authorized by a district, the Superintendent would ultimately be responsible for it just as any school in the district. So the application would be signed by the Superintendent as the "contact person" for the district. With local control, the district will make the decision as to wherein lies the ultimate responsibility for oversight of the online program.

4. What is the timeline for feedback and re-submittal of the application?

The Unit of Online Learning will grant certification to all applications that describe the required application components at a level that meets or exceeds expectations for certification as set out in the review rubric.

If an application does not meet expectations for all required components, programs will receive a letter asking them to provide more information or clarity in order to raise the ranking of "below" to "meets expectations. The Unit will provide specific feedback to the Authorizer about which application components were not addressed with sufficient detail and completeness or which application components were scored as “Below Expectations” after review.

Using this feedback, the Authorizer may submit a supplemental application addressing only the identified components within thirty days of receiving notice from CDE. Supplemental re-applications will be reviewed as expeditiously as possible, not to exceed thirty days from the date of receipt of the re-submission.

If after the re-submission the application does not adequately address all required components, the certification will be denied. If CDE does not receive response to the components that were not adequately addressed within the thirty days, the certification will be denied. If certification is denied, the Authorizer-Applicant can not re-apply until the next application window.

5. What is the structure of the Application for Certification?

The application is a vehicle for giving insight into the online program. The Application is divided into four sections. It asks that the authorizer tell about their capacity for oversight of the program. It asks the authorizer to tell how the online program meets the Quality Standards. It asks that the authorizer describe the online program's contract/relationship with an Education Service Provider (if applicable) and it asks the online program to define itself according to a set of defined criteria.

6. Who will review the Application for Certification?

The review of the applications, using the rubrics provided with the application, will be completed by reviewers with experience in the field.

7. What is the MOU Process and how does it work?

The Unit of Online Learning has received questions about the MOU process regarding the agreement between an online program provider seeking approval to operate a Learning Centers within the boundaries of a school district. Upon receipt of the Standard MOU form, the local district has four options:

(a) Accept the MOU and indicate such acceptance by appropriate signatures.

(b) The school district and the multi-district program may mutually agree to change the information in the standard MOU form provided with the notice or to include information in the memorandum of understanding in addition to that included in the standard MOU form. Acceptance of the agreed upon MOU would be indicated by appropriate signatures.

If the school district does not provide notice of its decision within forty-five days, the Standard MOU Form shall become effective on the forty-sixth day following the school district’s receipt of the notice, and the applicant may proceed under the terms of the Standard MOU as provided to the school district.

A school district and an online program may mutually agree in writing to decline to enter into a MOU.

A school district may refuse to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a multi-district program for the operation of a learning center if:

a. the standard MOU form provided by the multi-district program fails to satisfy the statutory requirements or

b. the school district reasonably determines that the multi-district program is contrary to the best interests of the pupils, parents, community or school district.

If a school district refuses to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a multi-district program for operation of a learning center, the multi-district program may appeal the school district's decision to the State Board.

Please submit additional questions to Amanda Heiney at: heiney_a@cde.state.co.us or 303.866.6897.