(1) This rule establishes requirements for distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs and/or courses that fulfill elementary or middle grades basic education programs and/or high school graduation requirements.

(2) School districts may receive and/or provide distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs.

(a) School districts receiving distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs to supplement instruction may utilize distance, online, and technology delivered learning as they would other supplementary resources without restriction.

(b) Distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs and/or courses shall meet the learner expectations adopted by the school district or aligned with state content and performance standards.

(3) Except as provided in (3) (a) , teachers of distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs shall be licensed and endorsed in the area of instruction with such license granted as a result of the completion of a professional educator preparation program accredited by NCATE and/or a state board of education. School districts receiving distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs described in this rule shall have a distance learning facilitator as provided in this rule assigned for each course and available to the students.

(a) When a teacher of distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs and/or courses is not licensed and endorsed as provided in this rule, the facilitator must hold a Montana educator license.

(b) When a teacher of distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs is licensed and endorsed in the area of instruction, as provided in this rule, the receiving school district's facilitator shall be a licensed teacher or a para-educator.

(c) The school district must ensure that the distance, online, and technology delivered learning facilitator, whether licensed or not, receives in-service training on technology delivered instruction pertaining to:

(i)   the course organization;

(ii)  classroom management;

(iii) technical aspects of the delivery method;

(iv)  strategies for use of distance learning;

(v)   monitoring of student testing;

(vi)  and securing other services as needed.

(4) Montana school districts providing distance, online and technology delivered learning shall comply with the teacher load requirements of ARM 10.55.713(3) .

     (5) Providers of distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs, other than Montana school districts, shall annually:

     (a) register with the office of public instruction;

     (b) identify all Montana school districts to whom they are providing distance, online, and technology delivered programs and/or courses;

     (c) verify the professional qualifications, including Montana teacher licensure and endorsement if possessed, of their teachers of distance, online, and technology delivered programs and/or courses;

     (d) provide the course description including the content and delivery model for each distance, online, and technology delivered program and/or course provided to Montana schools; and

     (e) demonstrate that the students they serve have ongoing contact with their teachers of distance, online, and technology delivered learning programs and/or courses.