SECTION 70.1001. Definitions

The following terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Electronic course--An educational course in which instruction and content are delivered primarily over the Internet, a student and teacher are in different locations for a majority of the student's instructional period, most instructional activities take place in an online environment, the online instructional activities are integral to the academic program, extensive communication between a student and a teacher and among students is emphasized, and a student is not required to be located on the physical premises of a school district or charter school. An electronic course is the equivalent of what would typically be taught in one semester. For example: English IA is treated as a single electronic course and English IB is treated as a single electronic course.

(2) Successful course completion--The term that applies when a student taking a high school course has demonstrated academic proficiency of the content for a high school course and has earned a minimum passing grade of 70% or above on a 100-point scale, as assigned by the properly credentialed online teacher(s), sufficient to earn credit for the course.

(3) Successful program completion--The term that applies when a student in Grades 3-8 has demonstrated academic proficiency and has earned a minimum passing grade of 70% or above on a 100-point scale, as assigned by the properly credentialed online teacher(s) for the educational program, sufficient for promotion to the next grade level.

(4) Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN)--A state-led initiative for online learning rather than a telecommunications or information services network. The TxVSN is comprised of two components, the statewide course catalog and the online school program. Authorized by the Texas Education Code, Chapter 30A, the TxVSN is a partnership network administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in coordination with regional education service centers (ESCs), Texas public school districts and charter schools, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities.

(5) TxVSN central operations--The regional education service center that carries out the day-to-day operations of the TxVSN, including the centralized student registration system, statewide course catalog listings, and other administrative and reporting functions.

(6) TxVSN online school--A Texas public school district or charter school that meets eligibility requirements and serves students who are enrolled full time in an approved TxVSN Online School program.

(7) TxVSN Online School (OLS) program--A full-time, virtual instructional program that is made available through an approved course provider and is designed to serve students in Grades 3-12 who are not physically present at school.

(8) TxVSN course provider--An entity that meets eligibility requirements and provides an electronic course through the TxVSN. Course providers include providers in the statewide course catalog and TxVSN online schools.

(9) TxVSN receiver district--A Texas public school district or charter school that has students enrolled in the school district or charter school who take one or more online courses through the TxVSN statewide course catalog.

(10) TxVSN statewide course catalog--A supplemental online high school instructional program available through approved course providers.

Source Note: The provisions of this §70.1001 adopted to be effective February 27, 2013, 38 TexReg 1163; amended to be effective April 7, 2015, 40 TexReg 1967