For more information, please visit schools.utah.gov

2. So what is the
Statewide Public Education Online Program
(SPEOP)?
SPEOP was created during the last
General Session of the Utah State Legislature.
Implementing legislation is often talked about as
“Senate Bill 65.”
2

3. SPEOP statutes ensure that students can access
online courses offered statewide
Online Course
Content is consistent
with USOE core
requirements
(R277-726-7(2)(J)).
3

4. Why is Online Education Important?
4

5. A Recommendation
States must steer towards
&
customizing education
adapt to the needs of the student..
Online options
are essential in equipping students with the
(many of them)
5 skills and knowledge essential for success.

6. QUESTION for Participants:
How much do you think a
Vote –
Tell us
person with only a High School
Education can increase their
what you
weekly earnings by getting a
Bachelor’s Degree, on
think!
average?
6

7. Who is an SPEOP Online Provider ?
Online course providers (Providers) are:
• School Districts
• Charter Schools
• A District or Charter School program created for the
purpose of serving Utah students grades 9-12 online
(R277-726-1(K)).
Beginning with the 2012–13 school year, the Electronic
High School is intended to be an authorized online
course provider for the Program (§53A-15-1205(1)).
7

8. SPEOP is designed to help students be
successful
 Online course Providers receive full payment only
if the student completes the course with a passing grade.
 All grades become part of the Provider’s
“permanent record,” which is publically available.
8

9. A teacher of record is available to assist the
student.
9

10. What if a student does not
pass a class?
Remediation may continue until
graduation.
A student originally has a year to
complete a 1.0 credit course, and 9
weeks past the end of the
semester to complete a .5 credit
course.
10

11. WHO IS An eligible student ?
A student enrolled in a district school or
charter school in Utah
(§53A-15-1202(6)).
No!! A 9-12th grade student like these
ones!!
11

12. An eligible student may enroll in an online
1. The student meets the course
course if:
prerequisites.
2. The course is open for enrollment.
Statewide Public Education Online Program
12

13. An eligible student may enroll in online
courses offered through SPEOP providers
for no more than 2 credits
(§53A-15-1204
18

14. How are Online
Courses selected ?
1. A student’s primary school of enrollment
(“home school”) must assist an eligible
student in scheduling courses.
1. So long as these are consistent with:
a) Graduation requirements
b) The student's SEOP.
c) Student's post-secondary plans.
19

15. What Content Areas do you think are
most popular ?
15

16. HOW IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ONLINE
PROVIDER AND THE PRIMARY SCHOOL OF ENROLLMENT
INITIATED ?
Enrollment is requested as a primary school counselor files a
“Course Credit Acknowledgement” (CCA)
at the request of the student and the student’s parent.
21

17. 17

18. “Fully Executed”
USOE will notify both the School Counselor
and the Provider once a CCA is
“Fully Executed.”
This means that the student is now enrolled
in the requested course, and the Provider
may initiate instruction.
27

19. Course withdrawal is governed by
A student may withdraw or cease
Board Rule.
participation in an online course within 10
days of
student enrollment confirmation by the
USOE
(R277-726-1(S)).
28

20. No
CAN A STUDENT ENROLL AT ANY TIME?
…and Yes
Enrollment in an Online Course for a given
semester must occur within 10 school days of
Course Enrollment at the Primary School of
Enrollment
unless
the student does not have a full class schedule
(R277-726-4(D)).
at the student’s primary school of enrollment
29

21. Can Primary LEAs develop participation
calendars to encourage orderly enrollment?
YES
Be aware of the local
(school or district)
rules governing
course withdrawal
(R277-726-8(A)).
30

22. SPEOP Online courses are free to students.
Enrollment
at the primary school of enrollment
is the funding “mechanism” for SPEOP courses.
31

23. An SPEOP student may earn no
more credits in a semester
than
the number of credits a student may
earn by taking a full course load
during the regular school day in a
high school classroom
(§53A-15-1209).
Membership ≤ 1.0 “FTE”
32

24. Funding is granted only for full
enrollment.
Please count only periods (courses) that
are taken for Credit.
Do not count Release
Period Time when computing
2 Credits, as Release Time
is Non-Credit in nature.
Period Period
1 3
Period Period
4 5
35

25. Also, SPEOP can accommodate a student
which may want to exceed the 2 credit
limit for Academic or Other Reasons:
 A student's primary LEA of enrollment may allow
an eligible student to enroll in online courses for
more than the allowable number of credits (§53A-15-
1204(3)(a)).
 Upon the request of an eligible student, the State
Board of Education may also allow the student to
enroll in online courses for more credits if the
online courses better meet the academic goals of
the student (§53A-15-1204(3)(b)).
40 # of Course Credits > 2

26. Home-Schooled Students
Home-schooled or private school students must enroll in a
Utah district or charter school for at least two “traditional”
school courses provided by the district or charter school of
enrollment, to be eligible for the Program.
41

27. An eligible student's primary LEA of
enrollment may not:
1. Impose restrictions on a student's selection of an
online course that fulfills graduation requirements
and is consistent with the student's SEOP or post-
secondary plans (§53A-15-1204(5)(a)).
2. Give preference to an online course or online
course provider (§53A-15-1204(5)(b)).
47

28. A Counselor is responsible, in conjunction with the student
and the student's parent or legal guardian, for preparing
and implementing a student education/occupation plan
(SEOP) for the eligible student
(§53A-1a-106; §53A-15-1204(4)(a)).
Board rule requires that written SEOPs for all students
“shall be signed by parents/guardians.” (R277-462-4)
A Counselor may not deny a student SPEOP enrollment
where a parent requests that an SEOP be amended for this
purpose, unless the course is not consistent with
graduation requirements or post-secondary plans,
recommendations of an IEP team – or for some other
48 reason specified in rule or law.

29. Students requiring special
Accommodations
(IEPs, LEP, 504)
Students enrolled in a school district or charter
school in Utah, including students with
disabilities and English language learners, are
eligible for enrollment in the Statewide Public
Education Online Program
(Utah Code 53A-15-1202(6)).
49

30. The Course Credit Acknowledgment
(CCA) Process and Students needing
Accommodations
The CCA form includes clarification about
whether a student has an IEP or 504 plan.
50

31. IDEA and Section 504 Requirements
Online course providers (Providers) are expected to
comply with IDEA and Section 504 requirements
(R277-726-7(C)). Providers in the Statewide Public
Education Online Program must provide the special
education services and accommodations that the
student requires, as per the IEP or 504 plan (Id).
51

32. How can Students and Parents find out
about SPEOP online courses?
56 WWW.SCHOOLS.UTAH.GOV

33. http://www.schools.utah.gov/edonline/
57

34. QUESTIONS for Participants
How much do you think a
person with only a High School
Answer:
Education can increase their
A person with a basic college
earnings by getting a
degree will earn 134% more
Bachelor’s Degree, on average?
per week.
A person with a basic college
degree will earn $1,038, versus
$444 for a typical High School
Graduate.
58

35. What Content Areas are most
popular ?
2% Mathematics
Language Arts
Social Studies
8%
9% 21%
Sciences
Foreign Languages
11%
Computer Sciences
23%
12%
15% Health & Fitness
59 Arts

36. Questions about the Statewide Public
Education Online Program?
1. Visit the SPEOP Website at:
http://www.schools.utah.gov/edonline/Info-for-
Primary-Schools-and-LEAs.aspx
2. Review our Providers List and Frequently Asked Questions
at:
http://www.schools.utah.gov/edonline/Students-and-
Parents.aspx
3. Access SPEOP Board Rule at:
http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r277/r277-
726.htm
4. Access SPEOP Statute at:
http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE53A/htm/53A15_1201
60
00.htm

37. Dr. Cory Kanth
Statewide Public Education Online Program Specialist,
Utah State Office of Education
Cory.Kanth@schools.utah.gov
(801) 538-7660 (Office)