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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Hello All:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Here is the second and last fact sheet for Annapolis. Please be ready on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Thanks again,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sharon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Subject: Nonvisual Accessibility for Online Learning in K-12 Education<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Date: January 17, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>THE PROBLEM<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Education in Maryland is changing in order to take advantage of digital online learning. Elementary and secondary schools are beginning to offer online courses in addition to other forms of digital learning. Blind and other print disabled students are being left out of these new opportunities because accessibility laws are not enforced.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>PROPOSED ACTION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>The Maryland General Assembly should amend the Education article, <u>Section 7-1002 Virtual Learning Opportunities</u>, Annotated Code of Maryland, to authorize the Maryland State Board of Education and county Boards of Education to include accessibility review, remediation, and denial or approval when setting reasonable fees for the costs incurred by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) or local education agencies (LEAs) for the review and approval of online courses and services. Because the MSDE and LEAs have little expertise in accessibility, they should be able to contract for such services and charge vendors accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>BACKGROUND<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, the voice of Maryland’s blind, has been advocating for equal nonvisual access for decades. As a result, the Maryland General Assembly has a proud history of enacting legislation requiring nonvisual access to public information and services, but these laws are poorly enforced. Discrimination against the blind by the MSDE is particularly disturbing. For instance, in 2012, HB 1219 and SB 674 were enacted into law, and read in part:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the State Department of Education shall:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>(1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>ensure that online courses and services developed or reviewed and approved include specifications that allow for access by students with disabilities, including blindness, in accordance with the technical standards for electronic and information technology issued under subsection (A)(2) of Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794(A)(2) or any other appropriate accessibility standard; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>(2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>establish a means for ensuring that online courses and services that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) of this section are prohibited from use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>While the MSDE claims to enforce the accessibility requirements, there is </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>little evidence to support this claim. The Department recently developed regulations to implement this law (see the appendix, page 4). These regulations, entitled 13A.04.15 Digital Learning, which the Maryland State Board of Education is scheduled to adopt on January 22, 2013, make no mention of accessibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland commented on these regulations, the MSDE informed us of its procedures and accessibility standards that are already in effect. Unfortunately, the standards do not adequately address the accessibility issues. There is no direct requirement in the document entitled “Process and Procedures for Offering Student Online Courses in Maryland Public Schools,<span style='color:black'>” effective date June 26, 2012, </span>that the online courses must be accessible <span style='color:black'>in order </span>to be approved. While the MSDE tool, <i>Standards for Reviewing High School Online Courses</i> (available at <a href="http://mdk12online.org/docs/StandardsforReviewingOnlineStudentCourses.pdf"><span style='color:blue'>http://mdk12online.org/docs/StandardsforReviewingOnlineStudentCourses.pdf</span></a>), addresses accessibility, these standards call for judgments about accessibility rather than objective criteria about accessibility that are to be furnished by evaluators. In short, these standards are too vague and weak to be effective.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The adoption of 13A.04.15 Digital Learning demonstrates the need for stricter and more objective accessibility criteria.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The 2012 legislation recognized that the MSDE and LEAs do not have the expertise and funds to adequately examine online courses and services to ensure that they are appropriate for use in Maryland. To solve this problem, the 2012 legislation also authorized the MSDE and LEAs to charge a fee to the vendors when the vendors seek approval of online courses or services. This funding mechanism will increase the use of online learning without raising the cost to taxpayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The 2012 legislation, <span style='color:black'>HB 1219 and SB 674, </span>must be amended to require the inclusion of accessibility review and remediation in these vendor fees.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Because all students have different learning styles, incorporating accessibility features into online courses will not only benefit students with disabilities, but also will enhance learning opportunities for all students.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act demonstrates that, if we are to achieve equal access in education and rehabilitation, it is cost-effective to require such access in the procurement and design of these products and services. This successful strategy should be thoroughly incorporated into state and local education procedures.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Accessibility will be overlooked unless specific funds are designated for its implementation. Because it is the vendors’ responsibility to provide an accessible online course, it is only fair that accessibility be incorporated into the fees charged by the MSDE or LEAs.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The MSDE and LEAs should not be expected to have expertise in accessibility. By contracting the accessibility review and remediation to an expert, errors and oversights may be avoided.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>CONCLUSION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Students who are blind or who have other print disabilities should have the same right to online learning as their nondisabled peers. Accessibility features in online courses are technically achievable if vendors are required to include such features in their online courses and products. The state of Maryland must not only enact legislation to require access, but must vigorously enforce this legislation. Providing funding through vendor fees as suggested by the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is a reasonable method to achieve this goal. Because Maryland is just beginning to move toward greater use of online learning, it is crucial to address accessibility now and to enact the suggested legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><br clear=all style='page-break-before:always'></span></b><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center'><a name="_Toc341702791"></a><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>APPENDIX<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Title 13A<br>STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;text-align:center'><a name="_Toc341702792"></a><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Subtitle 04 SPECIFIC SUBJECTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:7.9pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-7.9pt'><a name="_Toc341702793"></a><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>13A.04.15 Digital Learning<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Authority: Education Article, §§2-205 and 7-1002, Annotated Code of Maryland <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Notice of Proposed Action<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>[12-326-P]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Maryland State Board of Education proposes to adopt new Regulations <b>.01—.05</b> under a new chapter, <b>COMAR 13A.04.15 Digital Learning</b>. These regulations replace the emergency regulations 13A.03.02.02 and .05 published on August 24, 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This action was considered at the September 25, 2012, meeting of the Maryland State Board of Education. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Statement of Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The purpose of this action is to provide additional course opportunities for students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Comparison to Federal Standards<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>There is no corresponding federal standard to this proposed action.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Estimate of Economic Impact<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I. Summary of Economic Impact. </span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The proposed regulation will have a fiscal impact on MSDE’s ability to hire content expert educators and trained reviewers to evaluate student online courses. It will also impact MSDE’s ability to provide professional development for district educators as it relates to the review and evaluation of online courses. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>Revenue (R+/R-)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>II. Types of Economic Impact.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>Expenditure (E+/E-)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>Magnitude<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="52%" colspan=2 valign=bottom style='width:52.2%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><div class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><hr size=2 width="100%" noshade style='color:black' align=left></span></div></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A. On issuing agency:<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>(E+)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>$14,000<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>B. On other State agencies:<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>NONE<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>C. On local governments:<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>NONE<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="98%" colspan=3 valign=bottom style='width:98.84%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>Benefit (+)<br>Cost (-)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>Magnitude<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="52%" colspan=2 valign=bottom style='width:52.2%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><div class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><hr size=2 width="100%" noshade style='color:black' align=left></span></div></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>D. On regulated industries or trade groups:<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>NONE<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>E. On other industries or trade groups:<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>NONE<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="46%" valign=bottom style='width:46.04%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>F. Direct and indirect effects on public:<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="29%" valign=bottom style='width:29.82%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black'>NONE<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="21%" valign=bottom style='width:21.8%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr><td width="98%" colspan=3 valign=bottom style='width:98.84%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>III. Assumptions.</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> (Identified by Impact Letter and Number from Section II.)<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="98%" colspan=3 valign=bottom style='width:98.84%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A. S.B. 674, Acts of 2012, states that the State Board may set reasonable fees for reviewing and processing approvals for online courses and services. Each course review requires several content expert educators and a trained reviewer. It is anticipated that a minimum of ten courses will be reviewed each year. The Department may delegate the authority to review and approve online courses to a County board. Professional development provided by MSDE that is related to the review process is required to expand each district’s capacity to review and approve courses.<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Economic Impact on Small Businesses<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The proposed action has minimal or no economic impact on small businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Impact on Individuals with Disabilities<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The proposed action has no impact on individuals with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Opportunity for Public Comment<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";letter-spacing:-.2pt'>Comments may be sent to Valerie Emrich, Director of Instructional Technology, Maryland State Department of Education, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, or call 410-767-0382 (TTY 410-333-6442), or email to <a href="mailto:vemrich@msde.state.md.us"><span style='color:blue'>vemrich@msde.state.md.us</span></a>, or fax to 410-333-2128. Comments will be accepted through January 2, 2013. A public hearing has not been scheduled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Open Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Final action on the proposal will be considered by the Maryland State Board of Education during a public meeting to be held on January 22, 2013, at 9 a.m., at 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:26.65pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-26.65pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.01 Purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Digital learning encompasses a wide spectrum of tools and practices that support teaching and learning for students and educators. This chapter defines online and blended courses and establishes requirements for such courses to be offered to students for credit. Processes for the approval of online credit bearing student courses and professional development courses are addressed. These processes include the setting of a vendor fee structure for reviewing and approving courses.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:26.65pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-26.65pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.02 Definitions. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meaning indicated. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>B. Terms Defined.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(1) “Blended course” means one in which less than 20 percent of the instruction is conducted online. Such a course is also referred to as a “hybrid course.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(2) “Digital learning” means any instructional practice that effectively uses Internet-related technology to strengthen the student and/or educator learning experience. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(3) “Online course” means an Internet-based course in which 80 percent or more of the instruction is conducted online, the teacher and student are separated by distance or time or both, and two-way communication is required between teacher and student.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(4) “Review” means an analysis of a student or professional development online course by a panel of experts designated by the Department to determine whether the course shall be recommended for approval. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(5) “Vendor” means a person or organization that markets online courses or contracted online student seats in such courses. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:26.65pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-26.65pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.03 Approval Requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A. Credit-bearing online courses provided to students by a local education agency (LEA) are subject to Department approval.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>B. Noncredit-bearing courses and blended courses provided to students by a local education agency do not require Department approval. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>C. All online professional development courses offered by vendors to local education agencies are subject to Department approval.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:26.65pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-26.65pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.04 Review and Approval Procedures. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A. There are three options for obtaining review and approval of credit-bearing online courses and professional development courses.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>B. Options for Obtaining Review and Approval.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(1) Departmental Review and Approval.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(a) A vendor may request a Department review of an online credit-bearing course or professional development course.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(b) Department review shall be conducted by a panel of at least three content experts, one of whom shall be a reviewer trained to conduct such reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(c) A vendor seeking Department approval of an online or professional development course shall pay a nonrefundable fixed fee of $1,400 to the Department to cover the cost of a review.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(d) The Department reserves the right to review previously approved courses every 3 years.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(e) The Department reserves the right to determine which courses will be reviewed based on student and local education agency need.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(2) Local Education Agency Review and Approval Process.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(a) A vendor may request an LEA review of an online credit-bearing course or professional development course.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(b) The LEA review shall be conducted by a panel of at least three content experts, one of whom must be a reviewer trained to conduct such reviews as designated by the Department.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(c) An LEA may establish a reasonable fee to cover the cost of a review.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(d) After conducting the review, the LEA shall submit its review and recommendation for approval to the Department for final approval.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(e) To cover the cost of the final review, the LEA shall submit to the Department 15 percent of the fee it collected from the vendor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(f) The LEA reserves the right to determine which courses will be reviewed based on student need.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.3in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(3) MSDE-Approved Reviewing Program.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(a) A vendor may request an MSDE-Approved Reviewing Program review of an online credit-bearing course or a professional development course.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(b) After the review is completed, the MSDE-Approved Reviewing Program shall submit the review documentation to MSDE.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.45in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(c) The vendor shall pay a fee of $360 to the Department to cover the cost of the final review. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:26.65pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-26.65pt'><b><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.05 Fee Increase.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Upon review and approval by the State Board, in FY 2016 and any subsequent year thereafter, the Department may increase the vendor fees set forth in this Regulation by no more than 20 percent per annum. If the Department increases the fee, it shall publish such increase on its website at <a href="http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE"><span style='color:blue'>http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>