Interesting OCR decision.

You know I've been concerned about access and equity issues in online education. When I've been talking about the issues I've predicted there will be a finding within the year. What I didn't know, really, I didn't know, was that at the time I was writing the NACOL Issues Brief the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) was investigating a complaint in Washington.

Here's an excerpt from the letter of finding by OCR. this is a narrow ruling, but it's a start. It will be interesting to see what comes next.

108 LRP 17959
Quillayute Valley (WA) School District
Office for Civil Rights, Western Division,
Seattle (Washington)
10-06-1196
November 16, 2007

Dear Superintendent Reaume:
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has
completed its investigation of the above-referenced
complaint against Quillayute Valley School District
No. 402 (QVSD). OCR investigated whether, in
August 2006, QVSD discriminated against a student
on the basis of disability when it denied the student
admission to the Insight School of Washington (ISW),
an online high school operating statewide under a
management services agreement with QVSD.

OCR conducted its investigation under the
authority of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
l973 and title II of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990, which prohibit discrimination on the
basis of disability in programs and activities receiving
federal funds from the U.S Department of Education
and by public entities, respectively. QVSD receives
federal funds from this Department and is a public
entity.

As discussed below, the evidence established
that QVSD did not comply with Section 504 and Title
II when it denied the student admission to ISW. OCR
also found that the 2006-2007 criteria for admission
to ISW did not comply with Section 504 or Title II
and that, during 2006-2007, QVSD did not ensure that
ISW complied with Section 504 and Title II. QVSD
and OCR discussed the compliance concerns and
QVSD agreed to take the actions set forth in the
enclosed Settlement Agreement. OCR concludes that
QVSD will be in compliance with Section 504 and
Title II with respect to the issues investigated in this
case upon full implementation of the actions and
commitments contained in the Settlement Agreement.

OCR's findings and conclusions are specific to
the 2006-2007 school year, and are based upon a
review and analysis of written information provided
by the parent, QVSD, and ISW, and interviews
conducted with the parent, and staff of QVSD and
ISW.[I]

more information may be available from: http://www.specialedconnection.com

Lifestyle change

I've just started a new position! I'm the Director of Programs for MentorNet. I've moved to San Jose, California and will be very busy bringing my past experience with diversity and online education to MentorNet and at the same time, learning more about e-mentoring . At the present time MentorNet programs are all at the post-secondary level. There is a lot of interest in developing e-mentoring programs at the high school level, but there are also a lot of issues (such as insuring the safety of the students) that are less an issue with post-secondary students, graduate students, and post-docs.

More on this in the future.

What Works in K-12 Online Learning

Finally! We, Rose & Smith, wrote Chapter 9 -- Online Discussions -- at least a year ago, and now finally the book is out.

Of course we don't get any royalties so, don't feel the need to run out and buy it to help support me, but if you're interested in learning more about What Works in K-12 Online Learning I thing there is a lot of good stuff in the book.

I heard from a friend who said:

"Ray, this was the book I wanted most of the new crop of ISTE titles, and yours was the first chapter I read...it is great! I like the way you made clear what many of us assume will be understood about intention, that freedom requires structure, the comparisons between reflexive and reflective practice and above all the importance of community (and what it takes to build it). It is excellent, and coming from you, I am not surprised

Innovation 2008

The Issues Brief that I wrote with Bob Blomeyer on access and equity and followup webinar has attracted some attention. A Google search shows a number of links. And now, Bob and I have been asked to speak at Innovation 2008 April 14-15 at Breckenridge CO.