Remote education within a school district.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what 'interactive delivery of course content' entails or if there are any limitations beyond being exempt from state oversight.

Remote Education Rules

The bill changes the rules for remote teaching in Wyoming public schools to allow teachers to teach their regular classes remotely without needing state approval.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the rules so that a teacher can teach a course remotely if they usually teach it in person within their school district.
• Exempts these courses from being considered virtual education, which means they don't need special state oversight or approval.

Who It Names or Affects

• Teachers who want to teach their regular classes remotely within their school district.
• Students in Wyoming public schools who can take these remote courses.
• The State Superintendent and other state officials responsible for overseeing virtual education.

Terms To Know

Virtual Education

Online or distance learning that is regulated by the state.

State Oversight

Rules and supervision set by the government for a specific activity, in this case, virtual education courses.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only applies to teachers within their own school district.
• It does not change rules for teaching students outside of Wyoming or for private schools.
• Teachers still need to follow other state and local rules when teaching remotely.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0002
Bill No.:

HB0039

Effective:

7/1/2020 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

20LSO-0002

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0005

Chapter No.:

7

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Education Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Remote education within a school district.

Subject:

Remote education within a school district.

Summary/Major Elements:

Current law provides that certain virtual education courses taught to Wyoming public school students are subject to rules promulgated by the State Superintendent. The rules, among other things, provide a process for the State Superintendent to establish, approve, facilitate and monitor a state network of virtual education courses. The State Superintendent must annually publish a course catalog identifying the courses available and the tuition to be assessed for each virtual education course.

The act creates an exception to State Superintendent rules for virtual education courses. It provides that a teacher who teaches a course in-person, in a physical classroom setting in the teacher's district of employment may teach the course remotely to other students in the same district without that course being subject to state virtual education oversight.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

20LSO-0002

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0039

ENROLLED ACT NO. 5,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to virtual education; creating an exception to virtual education requirements; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
202(a)(xxxi)(intro) and 21
‑
13
‑
330 by creating a new subsection (n) are amended to read:

21
‑
2
‑
202.

Duties of the state superintendent.

(a)

In addition to any other duties assigned by law, the state superintendent shall:

(xxxi)

By rule and regulation and in consultation with the state board of education and the Wyoming professional
teaching standards board, provide guidance and oversight of virtual education. Courses taught pursuant to an agreement entered into under W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
330(m)
or pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
330(n)
shall not be subject to this paragraph. The rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this paragraph shall meet the requirements of this paragraph by:

21
‑
13
‑
330.

Virtual education; program content; agreements between districts authorized; remote education.

(n)

A teacher who teaches a course in-person, in a physical classroom setting in the teacher's district of employment may teach the course remotely to other students in the same district using interactive delivery of course content. A course taught remotely pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered virtual education for purposes of determining if a student is receiving part
‑
time virtual education or full
‑
time virtual education.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

1