Stevensville School District

INSTRUCTION 

Student Instruction

The School District has adopted the protocols outlined in this policy to ensure the delivery of education services to students onsite at the school, offsite at other locations using available resources. The District administration or designated personnel are authorized to implement this policy.

As outlined in District Policy 2100, and except for students determined by the School District to be proficient using School district assessments, the adopted calendar has a minimum number of 720 aggregate instructional hours for students in kindergarten through third grade; 1,080 hours for students in fourth through eleventh grade and 1,050 hours for students in twelfth grade.

The School District may satisfy the aggregate number of hours through any combination of onsite, offsite, and online instruction. The District administration is directed to ensure that all students are offered access to the complete range of educational programs and services for the education program required by the accreditation standards adopted by the Montana Board of Public Education.

For the purposes of this policy and the School District’s calculation of ANB and “aggregate hours of instruction” within the meaning of that term in Montana law, the term “instruction” shall be construed as being synonymous with and in support of the broader goals of “learning “and full development of educational potential as set forth in Article X, section 1 of the Montana Constitution. Instruction includes innovative teaching strategies that focus on student engagement for the purposes of developing a students’ interests, passions, and strengths. The term instruction shall include any directed, distributive, collaborative and/or experiential learning activity provided, supervised, guided, facilitated, work based, or coordinated by the teacher of record in a given course that is done purposely to achieve content proficiency and facilitate the learning of, acquisition of knowledge, skills and abilities by, and to otherwise fulfill the full educational potential of each child.

Staff shall calculate the number of hours students have received instruction as defined in this policy through a combined calculation of services received onsite at the school or services provided or accessed at offsite or online instructional settings including, but not limited to, any combination of physical instructional packets, virtual or electronic based course meetings and assignments, self-directed or parent-assisted learning opportunities, and other educational efforts undertaken by the staff and students that can be given for grade or credit. Staff shall report completed hours of instruction as defined in this policy to the supervising teacher, building principal, or district administrator for final calculation.

In order to comply with the requirements of the calendar, District Policy and Section 20-1-301, MCA, the District shall implement the instructional schedules and methods identified in this policy.

Offsite Instruction

The Board of Trustees authorizes offsite instruction of students in a manner that satisfies the aggregate number of instructional hours outlined in the School District’s adopted or revised calendar for a school year. Offsite delivery methods shall include a complete range of educational services offered by the School District and shall comply with requirements of applicable statutes. Students completing course work through an offsite instructional setting shall be treated in and have their hours of instruction calculated in the same manner as students attending an onsite institutional setting.

Offsite instruction is available to students:

1. Meeting the residency requirements for that district as provided in 1-1-215;
2. Living in the district and eligible for educational services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act or under 29 U.S.C. 794; or
3. Attending school in the district under a mandatory attendance agreement as provided in 20-5-321;
4. Attending school in the nearest district offering offsite instruction that agrees to enroll the student when the student’s district of residence does not provide offsite instruction in an equivalent course in which the student is enrolled. A course is not equivalent if the course does not provide the same level of advantage on successful completion, including but not limited to dual credits, advanced placement, and career certification. Attendance under this provision is subject to approval of the Trustees.

The Board of Trustees authorizes the supervising teacher or district administrator to permit students to utilize and offsite or online instructional setting when circumstances require.

Proficiency-Based Learning

The Board of Trustees authorizes proficiency-based learning and ANB calculation in situations when a student demonstrates proficiency in a course area as determined by the Board of Trustees using District assessments consistent with District Policy 1005FE, or other measures approved by the Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees waives the minimum number of instructional hours for grade 7-12 students who demonstrate proficiency in a course area using district assessments that include, but are not limited to, the course or class teacher’s determination of proficiency as defined by the Board of Trustees. This determination shall be based on a review of the student’s completed coursework, participation in course delivery, and other methods applicable to the specific course or class. The Board of Trustees authorizes the use of the proficiency determination process for students who have selected this method of delivery, students for whom the School District is unable to document satisfaction of the required minimum aggregate number of hours through the offsite or onsite methods outlined in this policy, or other students whom School District personnel determine satisfy the definition of proficient or meeting proficiency.

This provision is based in the declaration by the Montana Legislature that any regulation discriminating against a student who has participated in proficiency-based learning is inconsistent with the Montana Constitution.

Legal Reference:
Article X, Section 1, Montana Constitution
Section20-1-101, MCA-Definitions
Section 20-1-301, MCA-School Fiscal Year
Section 20-9-311, MCA-Calculation of Average Number Belonging
Section 20-7-118, MCA-Offsite Provision of Educational Services
Section 20-7-1601, MCA-Transformation Learning-Legislative Intent
ARM 10.55.906(4))-High School Credit

Cross Reference:
Policy 1005FE-Profciency-Based Learning
Policy 2100-School Calendar
Policy 2140-Guidance and Counseling
Policy 2168-Distance Learning
Policy 2410-Graduation
Policy 2420-Granding and Progress Reports

Policy History:
Adopted on: January 11, 2022
Reviewed on: December 14, 2021; July 12, 2022
Revised on: January 11, 2022; August 9, 2022