Protocol for Determining Enrollment in Virtual Courses

Parents and Students must select a MOCAP-approved vendor. A complete list of vendors can be found at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s MOCAP Website. Students seeking part-time enrollment can select from any MOCAP Course Providers, including the St. Louis Virtual Campus, housed out of Parkway School District. Students taking fewer than six courses will remain students of Ladue School District. A student is considered a full-time virtual student if he/she is enrolled in six or more virtual classes. 

A student who selects a full-time, hosted program can enroll directly with the provider without seeking approval from the Ladue School District. The student ceases to become a student of the Ladue School District and instead becomes a student of the host district.

A student who selects a full-time, non-hosted program must be enrolled in the Ladue School District and will follow the steps below. 

Full-Time Hosted MOCAP Program Enrollment Process

1. Missouri residents are enrolled in resident district
2. Student expresses intent to enroll in full-time MOCAP program
3. IEP meetings held in resident district (if applicable)
4. Student disenrolls from resident district
5. Student enrolls in host district
6. Host, resident districts, and provider complete ESP and Collaborative Agreement
7. Student engages in coursework

Non-Hosted MOCAP Program or Course Enrollment Process

1. Missouri residents are enrolled in resident district
2. Students express intent to enroll in full-time MOCAP program or course/s
3. Resident district completes district approval process
4. Student remains enrolled in resident district
5. Student is enrolled in online program or course/s
6. Student engages in coursework

When determining if enrollment in a virtual course is the best educational decision for a student, the student and parent might consider the following preferred student skills for success in virtual courses: 

1. The student has demonstrated time-management skills that indicate the student is capable of submitting assignments and completing course requirements without reminders.
2. The student has demonstrated persistence in overcoming obstacles and a willingness to seek assistance when needed.
3. The student has demonstrated verbal or written communication skills that would allow the student to succeed in an environment where the instructor may not provide nonverbal cues to support the student’s understanding.
4. The student has the necessary computer or technical skills to succeed in a virtual course.
5. The student has access to technology resources to participate in a virtual course.
6. The student previously has been successful with virtual coursework. 
    

The building registrar will verify that the student is enrolled in the Ladue School District. If the student is not enrolled, the student must follow the district enrollment process. Nontraditional enrollments are approved through the Student Services department. 

Parent and student submit a request for enrollment in the virtual course(s) to their child’s counselor.

• The counselor and grade-level principal review the request to determine if the request should be brought to the team.
• The educational team meets to discuss the following criteria. The team may include a classroom teacher, counselor, grade-level principal, and any members of the IEP team if applicable.
  • How are the student's overall grades in the particular content(s) they are requesting to take online?
  • What is the student’s GPA and total number of credits?
  • What is the student's attendance for the previous semester?
  • Is this a request for a course for acceleration or credit recovery?
  • Are there any extenuating circumstances that the team should be made aware of?

*Course Registration Process:  Enrollment for Virtual Courses follows the same timeline as the enrollment process for Ladue courses.  

When a student is seeking to enroll in a full-time, hosted MOCAP program, IEP teams are not required to convene the IEP to determine if virtual instruction is in the student’s best educational interest. When students with IEPs choose to enroll in a full-time, hosted MOCAP program, districts should follow the IDEA transfer procedures. Teams in resident districts shall not delay a student’s enrollment by requiring an IEP to determine the best educational interest, nor should teams in the resident district convene an IEP at the request of the full-time, hosted MOCAP provider. 

If the student has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Launch is the recommended provider. Students who are participating in a “hosted” virtual program are to be unenrolled from their home district and enrolled in the host district. Students should be unenrolled in their Partner District and enrolled in Springfield Public Schools to continue with Launch. Springfield Public Schools will provide the student’s special education services.  

Students with IEPs seeking to enroll in MOCAP on a part-time basis shall continue to follow their resident district’s procedures for obtaining approval to enroll in virtual courses. A best educational interest determination is still made in these situations.

For long-term suspensions, the Director of Student Services will contact the grade level principal and/or special education administrator to discuss educational options and determine whether homebound or virtual learning is best for the student. The school educational team will collaborate with the student and family to determine course selection and assist with enrollment.