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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Panel opts to stay with two required online courses, one asynchronous

The state Board of Education subcommittee on online learning has voted to go with two courses as proposed for an Idaho high school graduation requirement, one of them being asynchronous; there were two dissenting votes, from Meridian school trustee Anne Ritter and Vision Charter School teacher Kurt Scheffler. Now, they're debating changes in some of the definitions and details, including a proposal to adjust the rule banning teachers from ever being in the classroom with students during an asynchronous course - that change passed unanimously. It replaces the total ban on the teacher being present with students in an asynchronous course with this sentence: "An online course in which an online platform and teacher deliver all curricula." The remainder of the definition remains the same.

The panel is now debating the provisions regarding students who fail online courses and alternatives for school districts, a particular point of concern among people at the hearings.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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