Ministry Policy Site
Policy Document: Distributed Learning - General
This page sets forth the Ministry policy entitled "Distributed Learning - General ". Scroll down for details, or click any of the anchors below to move directly to a specific part of the policy document.
Title Dates Status Policy Statement
Rationale Legislation/Regulations
Additional Definitions Policy Detail
Procedures References/Resources Contact
| TITLE |
Distributed Learning - General |
| DATES |
July 1, 2007
|
| STATUS |
Revised |
| POLICY STATEMENT |
A board or authority in BC may provide all or part of an educational program by means of distributed learning. A board or authority may operate a distributed learning school only if it has signed an agreement with the Minister.
|
| RATIONALE |
Distributed learning provides the flexibility to meet learning needs of many BC students not served through conventional school programs. Schools in rural and urban communities may have difficulty offering a full range of courses and program options to all students, and distributed learning can expand equitable access to education, specifically providing choice for those students who have restricted options.
|
| LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS |
School Act, Section 75 (4.1) |
| ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS |
Definition- “Distributed Learning”: A method of instruction that relies primarily on indirect communication between students and teachers, including internet or other electronic-based delivery, teleconferencing, or correspondence.
Definition- “Distributed Learning School”: A school or francophone school that offers instruction by means of distributed learning only. |
| POLICY |
Boards or authorities that operate a distributed learning school or program must enter into an Agreement with the Minister and be able to demonstrate that the school or program which the Agreement covers:
- Meets all of the requirements of the School Act and Legislation.
- Meets all of the requirements of the Distributed Learning Agreement between the Board of Education and the Ministry.
The Distributed Learning Agreement between the Ministry and board or authority will ensure that the board or authority:
- commits to meet or exceed BC standards for distributed learning.
- aligns its website to meet Ministry requirements.
- ensures it has supports in place to comply with the Ministry policy and standards, including resource investment.
- provides training and professional development for teachers, and employs only teachers who have experience and/or training in distributed learning methodology.
- meets policy and agreement expectations related to funds for designated resources to parents.
- provides records and reports on student achievement.
- works to achieve high participation rates in FSA.
- provides accurate information to the LearnNowBC web service
|
| PROCEDURES |
N/A. |
| REFERENCES/ RESOURCES |
Distributed Learning
BC Distributed Learning Standards
Clarification of Distributed Learning and Homeschooling.
Distributed Learning Agreement
LearnNow BC |
| CONTACT |
If you have any questions relating to this policy, please contact the Distributed Learning Unit, Information Department. |
Find A Policy by Title, Topic, or Date. Learn about new policy developments in Policy Changes and in Deregulation. Learn more about policies and their relationship to the governments legislative and regulatory framework in How Policy Works.
Links to Boards of Education and individual school resources are listed under Links to Useful Resources. |