Stevensville School District

INSTRUCTION 

Digital Academy Classes

The District recognizes that the District and students may have a need for greater flexibility in the educational program due to funding, teacher availability, individual learning styles, health conditions, employment responsibilities, lack of success in traditional school environments or a desire for students to accelerate their learning and work at the college level before leaving high school. The District acknowledges that online learning solutions offered by the Montana Digital  Academy (MTDA) may fulfill these needs.

MTDA is authorized by Montana law to charge fees for students to access offered courses. The District shall pay fees for students enrolled in an MTDA class that is required for graduation as specified in District policy or the student handbook or as determined by the Superintendent or designee when in-school options have been exhausted. The District may charge students a reasonable fee for an MTDA course or activity not required for graduation. The Board of Trustees authorizes the Superintendent to waive the fee in cases of financial hardship.

The Superintendent, and/or designees, shall be responsible for developing procedures for the online learning program that address related topics that may include but are not limited to specification and determination of graduation requirements and fee collection for classes that are not required.

Further, the online learning solutions providers ensure that:

A. Online course providers are accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation program or agency or are approved and endorsed by the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
B. Qualified district staff provides information and guidance to students and parents regarding the selection of appropriate online courses to meet their needs, as well  as a suitable number of online courses in which a student may enroll.
C. The curriculum requirements of the state and school district are met.
D. All online courses taken by the students will be approved by the administration in  advance of enrollment.
E. All teacher-led online courses include licensed, highly qualified teachers.

Cross Reference:
2100 School Calendar and Day
2170P Digital Academy Procedures
3520 Student Fees and Fines

Legal Reference:
§20-7-1201, MCA Montana digital academy – purposes – governance
§20-7-1202, MCA Funding – rulemaking authority
§20-9-213, MCA Fees

Policy History:
Adopted on: March 14, 2017
Reviewed on: February 14, 2017; October 12, 2021; October 3, 2022
Revised on: November 9, 2021