State Regulations
Regulation Compliance
7.0 Branson District RE-82 and Branson School Online are required to meet the same assessment criteria set forth by law for all Colorado Public Schools and Colorado student assessment criteria.
Privacy -  Branson School OnLine! complies with Family Rights to Privacy Act requirements.  We do not sell, forward, or share any information about any student or family other than as required by state and federal agencies.  Progress reports are shared only with the individual student, biological parents, and/or legally appoint guardians.
Truancy – Branson School OnLine! students fall under the compulsory attendance laws of the State of Colorado.  As such, truancy proceedings can and will be initiated if students do not attend their online courses.
Absences -  Branson School OnLine! students and parents are expected to keep assigned teachers advised of the reasons for absences from their coursework, whether due to health, family problems, religious observances, or other unusual circumstances.
Discipline -  Discipline problems almost never arise in an online program.  However, the program administrator in rare instances may need to consult with parents and students.
Withdrawal -  Students and parents should advise their teacher should it become necessary or advisable to withdraw from the program.
Suspensions/Expulsions – Branson School OnLine! does not suspend or expel students.
7.06.2
7.06.3
7.06.4
7.06.5 Teacher Responsibilities and Qualifications -  Teachers are expected to acquire and maintain appropriate licensure under the laws of the State of Colorado and the rules as administered by the Colorado Department of Education.  Teachers are responsible for monitoring and assisting students in pursuit of their courseware on a regular basis, and shall respond to student and parent emails and phone calls within 24 hours week-days.  Teachers also are responsible for attending regular teacher meetings as well as meeting a personalized staff development plan.
7.06.6 Student/Teacher ratios -  The maximum allowable student/teacher load in the Branson OnLine! program is 24 to 1.  The average is approximate 18 to 1.
7.06.7 Teacher Availability -  Teachers are available for telephone and email consultation with students and parents from Monday morning until Friday afternoon on school days as identified by the school calendar.  The school calendar is adopted annually by the Board of Education in June and is thereafter posted on the website.  Some of the time teachers are also available on weekends.  However, this is at the teacher’s option and is on an as-needed basis.
7.07.8 Minimum Teacher-Student and Teacher-Parent contact -  Many teachers are in contact with students on a daily basis and, through such vehicles as Instant Messenger, such contact can even be hourly throughout the day.  However, the minimum acceptable contact is one telephone consultation and one email consultation per week.
7.06.9 Expectations for student-parent involvement -  The “Performance Contract” in the section called “Applications” at the website outlines the responsibilities of students and parents in participating in the instructional processes.
7.06.10 Standardized Tests - Parents and students in grades 3-10 agree, as part of the application process, to participate in the CSAP testing conducted in the Spring each year at selected locations around the state.   In addition, High School Juniors agree to participate in ACT testing if required by the State.  Beginning 2003-2004, Branson Online! also will have regular assessments, aligned with Colorado standards, which we expect will be administered in September, January, and May.
7.06.11 School Calendar – A copy of the school calendar is posted at the website after adoption in June of each year.
7.06.11.1 Beginning in 2003-2004 there will be regular opportunities throughout the school year for students to participate in activities outside the regular school calendar.
7.06.12 The Board of Education adopts the school calendar for Branson OnLine! Consistent with the school calendar for Branson School.

Enrollment at Your Home School and BSO

Branson School Online students and families,

Please note that Branson Board policies and Colorado law require administrative approval prior to enrolling in any course(s) at a local traditional public school. According to Colorado Revised Statutes 22-33-104.6:6(c):

A student who is enrolled in on-line program courses for a majority of the student's school day and who seeks to enroll in a traditional public school for one or more courses shall obtain permission from the on-line program in which the student is enrolled prior to enrolling in one or more courses at a traditional public school.

Students and families seeking permission to enroll in one or more courses at a traditional public school should contact Carol Mock, registrar, or Dr. Larry Birden, Supertindent, at 719-946-5531. The deadline for application is Monday, September 17, 2006.  Thank you.