Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, school districts have the option to operate an online learning school in accordance with section 3302.42 of the Revised Code. Originally, ODE’s guidance clarified that the decision to operate an online learning school is not intended to be a transition strategy for a short-period as school districts continue to address the ongoing pandemic. Schools were further guided by ODE not to depend on online learning to account for instruction on days schools may be closed for a period of time for calamity or other unforeseen circumstances, including COVID-19 related issues. Essentially, the original guidance was geared toward not permitting school districts to utilize an online learning school for temporary placement of students whose learning environment was impacted due to COVID-19.
Last week, ODE issued updated guidance regarding temporary placement(s) for students who may need to switch to online learning due to COVID-19-related issues, such as short-term illness, quarantine, or classroom or building closures. The newly released guidance indicates that schools may temporarily switch a student to online learning due to COVID-19 related issues that require a student to be away from the school building. Specifically, ODE stated the temporary online placement can be for the duration of a quarantine period or while the student is sick.
ODE further clarified that school districts who submitted a blended learning declaration by the July 1, 2021 deadline may rely on a blended learning model to shift to remote learning due to COVID-19-related issues like closure of a classroom, building, or the entire district. Importantly, school districts that utilize a blended learning model should ensure that they meet the legal definition of blended learning, which requires that students are primarily participating in in-person learning over the course of the school year. The definition of blended learning was changed by House Bill 110 and redefined as “the delivery of instruction in a combination of time primarily in a supervised physical location away from home and online delivery whereby the student has some element of control over time, place, path, or pace of learning.” ODE has clarified the definition of “primarily” under a blended learning model to mean “a student that spends a minimum of 51% of time in school.” If a student is spending 51% of the time at home engaged in online learning, the student would be participating in online learning, not blended learning.
Importantly, ODE makes clear that the absence of a blended learning model, online learning school or other permissible online option that meets legislative requirements (this does not include a remote learning plan, as the flexibility districts were provided last year does not apply to the 2021-2022 school year), the state mandated minimum number of instructional hours must be met in another way, like extended hours or additional school days. Therefore, schools should critically examine their instructional model options in the event of a school building closure due to COVID-19.