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.
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