Hawkeye Reporter

Iowa is moving to get online learning programs approved as the state Board of Education recently moved to allow schools to require students to participate in online education during the school shutdown amid the COVID-19 crisis. 

The move also gave schools the green light to set up online programs if the school closure set to expire April 13 is extended. 

Sen. Claire Celsi said some school districts will not be able to develop online programs quickly enough to replace traditional classroom teaching. 

"Some school districts are absolutely not going to be able to do that by the end of the year because they do not have a plan and capability or, quite frankly, the budget to be able to do something like this," she said.

Des Moines Public Schools already has an accredited online program, according to the Des Moines Register. It took the district two years to develop the curriculum, train teachers and get technology set up for its Virtual Campus Program. 

Even with a program in place, the district still has to make sure the district’s 33,000 students all have access to WI-FI and a device.   

"All those students who are not typical learners, we've got to keep them in mind, because what you get are inequitable solutions," Celsi said. "And the longer this crisis goes on, the more unacceptable that is."

The federal Disabilities Education Act also mandates that public schools provide free and appropriate education for eligible students. An estimated 14% of students in the United States receive special education services, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.  

Celsi said she is concerned that students with disabilities, non English-speaking and students on individual learning plans will be overlooked as classes move online. 

"I appreciate that the state wants to get some guidance out there, and I do agree with one thing in that recommendation," she said, according to the Des Moines Register. "Pandemics are extraordinary circumstances, and maybe we need to revisit some of these guidelines, but the fact remains that the pandemic makes the circumstances worse for kids in these categories."