High school will become a virtual learning experience for more New York teenagers under a sweeping new state policy that promotes online instruction.
The Board of Regents approved new rules easing the “seat-time” requirements that spell out how long a student must physically spend in a classroom to earn course credit.
The regulations also lessen requirements for face-to-face interactions between students and teachers.
City Department of Education officials, who lobbied Albany for the changes, said the new rules will enable educators to conduct more online or “blended” courses for students located across several schools.
For example, a student will be able to take a virtual course in a subject that is not physically offered in his or her school because of a shortage of instructors.
“We can begin to take advantage of Mandarin Chinese teachers. We can make it available to students across schools,” said Arthur Vanderveen, chief of strategy in the department’s Office of Innovation.
The teacher would instruct a group of students from other locations digitally, as well as those in his or her classroom.