Since 1988, the State Board of Education has endorsed the inclusion of satellite-delivered instruction in secondary schools of the state. Under the guidelines, the Department of Education is charged with supervising the programming as well as approving credit courses that are proposed for the school curriculum. As a service to local districts, this memo provides lists of courses that currently meet the instructional guidelines and a form for requesting approval for satellite-delivered courses.
Schools that currently provide satellite courses, as well as those that intend to provide one or more courses via satellite-delivered instruction, must complete the one-page Application for Satellite Instruction 1999-2000 form. The providers have been advised that they should not accept registration information that does not include an approved Department of Education application.
Currently, there are four approved providers of instructional programming. Each establishes different registration dates, and each has a different method for completing the registration process. Each school must register students directly with the provider.
Due to the changing nature of program delivery, each school should verify that Satellite receiver equipment continues to be compatible with that used by the provider.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and a copy of the approval will be returned to the district. Applications should be in our office no later than Tuesday, August 10, 1999.
Please note that the attached guidelines for use of Satellite Instruction do not apply to any other distance learning
technologies. The State Board of Education and the Department of Education are in the process of developing comprehensive distance learning regulations.
Please return to: Roy Barnes
Arkansas Department of Education
#4 State Capitol Mall, Room 107A
Little Rock, AR 72201-1071