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Equity Matters: Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities Equity Matters Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities James D. Basham, William (Skip) Stahl, Kelsey R. Ortiz, Mary Frances Rice, Sean J. Smith The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities Equity Matters Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities James D. Basham, Ph.D., William (Skip) Stahl, M.S., Kelsey R. Ortiz, M.S., Mary Frances Rice, Ph.D. (ABD), & Sean J. Smith, PhD. The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities ©2015 The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. All Rights Reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this publication, please contact the Center on Online Learning and Students with Dis- abilities at [email protected] Center researchers and staff have made every effort to provide clear and accurate information. We recognize however, that despite our careful efforts some errors in accuracy and omission are unfortunately unavoidable. The contents of this annual publication were developed under a grant from the US Depart- ment of Education #H327U110011. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Celia Rosenquist. The text of this publication is set in Minion Pro and Myriad Pro. Citation: Basham, J.D., Stahl, S., Ortiz, K., Rice, M.F., & Smith, S. (2015). Equity Matters: Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities. Lawrence, KS: Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities. Table of Contents Chapter One Understanding Transformative Change 8 Authors: James D. Basham, William (Skip) Stahl, Daryl F. Mellard Chapter Two State and Territory Policy Scan for Online 14 Learning and Students with Disabilities Authors: James D. Basham, Kelsey R. Ortiz, William (Skip) Stahl, Mary Frances Rice, Daryl F. Mellard Contributors: Susan Bulgren, Theron (Bill) East, Jr., McKenzie Nicholis, Kate Tindle Chapter Three Special Education in Online Learning Environments 36 Authors: Mary Frances Rice, William (Skip) Stahl, James D. Basham Contributors: Paula Burdette, Rachel Currie-Rubin, Donald D. Deshler, Theron (Bill) East, Jr., Daryl F. Mellard, David Rose, Sean J. Smith Chapter Four The Changing Structure and Roles 50 within Online Education Authors: William (Skip) Stahl, James D. Basham, Mary Frances Rice, Sean J. Smith Contributors: Paula Burdette, Michael Connell, Rachel Currie- Rubin, Donald D. Deshler, Theron (Bill) East, Tracey Hall, Garron Hillaire, Mindy Johnson, Sam Catherine Johnston, Daryl F. Mellard, David Rose Chapter Five Special Topics: Access to Online Education, Data 64 and Privacy, and Graduation Authors: Kelsey R. Ortiz, Mary Frances Rice, James D. Basham and William (Skip) Stahl, Daryl F. Mellard Appendix A Glossary 82 Appendix B State and Territory Scans 86 Appendix C 2015 State and Territory Policy 144 Scan Survey Questions Acknowledgments It has been a great honor to work with a passionate team of colleagues that bring many years of insight, wisdom, and expertise to the work the Center does every day. The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities 2015 Annual Publication would not have been possible without researchers and staff dedicated to uncovering the trends and insights hopefully beneficial to parents, students, teachers, administrators, and state officials in order to better serve all students in the online learning environment. James Basham and Skip Stahl Editorial Oversight James D. Basham, Ph.D. William (Skip) Stahl, M.S. Daryl F. Mellard, Ph.D. Sean J. Smith, Ph.D. Theron (Bill) East, Jr., Ed.D. Editorial Support Amy Leigh Beecher, M.A. Susan Bulgren, B.S. McKenzie Nicholis Kate Tindle, Ed.D. Mindy Johnson, Ed.M. Contributing Researchers James D. Basham, Ph.D., Paula Burdette, Ph.D., Richard Allen Carter, Jr., M.S.E., Michael Connell, Ed.D., Rachel Currie-Rubin, Ed.D., Donald D. Deshler, Ph.D., Theron (Bill) East, Ed.D., Tracey Hall, Ph.D., Garron Hillaire, Ed.M., Sam Catherine Johnston, Ed.D., Daryl F. Mellard, Ph.D., Kelsey R. Ortiz, M.S., Jesse R. Pace, Ed.S., Mary F. Rice, Ph.D.(ABD), David Rose, Ed.D., Sean J. Smith, Ph.D., Skip Stahl, M.S. Design Ian Shea-Cahir 6 Equity Matters: Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities The Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities conducts research on how K-12 online learning im- pacts the access, participation, and progress of students with disabilities. Research outcomes are expected to inform the design, selection, and implementation of online digital curriculum materials, the systems that deliver and support them, and the instructional practices associated with their use, in order to increase their efficacy for students with disabilities and other elementary and secondary learners. The research agenda is aimed at 1) identifying the trends and issues in online education, 2) developing and testing designs and practices that promise to make online education more effective and accessible, and 3) conducting research that impacts the future of online education. The Center is a partnership involving the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning (KUCRL), the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). The Center is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education. Center for Research on Learning (CRL) CAST’s work is inspired and informed by the learners The Center for Research on Learning, at the University who often get pushed aside in traditional education set- of Kansas Lawrence campus, is an internationally rec- tings. In other words, “the future is in the margins,” as ognized research and development organization noted Founding Directors David Rose and Anne Meyer write. for creating solutions that dramatically improve quality By pioneering inclusive educational solutions based of life, learning, and performance — especially for those on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), CAST is re- who experience barriers to success. searching and developing ways to meet the needs of all learners. CAST’s efforts provide pre-K through college In the mid-1970s, passage of a federal education law re- educators with knowledge, skills, strategies, and tools quired that special education services be delivered to all that maximize learning opportunities for all students. students who needed them from kindergarten through high school. That law changed the education landscape National Association of State Directors of and planted the seed for what is now the Center for Special Education (NASDSE) Research on Learning. Since the time of its formation in 1938, the National CRL’s work centers on solving the problems that limit Association of State Directors of Special Education has individuals’ quality of life and their ability to learn and been providing leadership focused on the improvement perform in school, work, home, or the community. CRL of educational services and positive outcomes for chil- specifically studies problems in education and works to dren and youth with disabilities throughout the United place solutions that make a difference into the hands of States, its federal territories, and the Freely Associated educators, learners, employers, and policy makers. Long- States of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. term goals of the Center include research, development, NASDSE works tirelessly with these education agencies professional development, organizational change, and to align policies and proven practices in order to ensure dissemination that reach the largest possible audiences. students with disabilities are afforded full participation in their education and successful transition to post- Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) school education, employment, and independent living. CAST is a nonprofit research and development organization NASDSE serves state directors of special education that works to expand learning opportunities for all individ- through service and collaboration, providing effective uals, especially those with disabilities, through Universal leadership in the development of national policy related Design for Learning. In 1984, a small band of education to services that produce those successful outcomes. researchers founded CAST, the Center for Applied Special Technology, to explore ways of using new technologies to NASDSE offers strategies and tools to move to implemen- provide better educational experiences to students with dis- tation of best practices through communities of practice, abilities. As CAST researchers tested and refined their prin- training on current issues, technical assistance, policy ciples, priorities, and vision over that first decade, they came analysis, research, national initiatives and partnerships to to a new understanding of how to improve education using enhance problem solving at the local, state, and national flexible methods and materials. They called this approach level. NASDSE works to engage students, families, com- Universal Design for Learning (UDL). munities, professionals and policymakers as full partners. Equity Matters: Digital & Online Learning for Students with Disabilities 7 Chapter One
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