Steps to Submitting a Course

When applying to be statewide catalog providers, potential providers will complete application assurances. Assurances relate to the potential providers' ability to meet statutory requirements. Next, potential provider districts and schools supply general course information such as course name, PEIMS numbers, semesters, contact information, technical requirements, and TEKS alignment. TxVSN Course Review will also need course access and login information for each Reviewer. Details and submission forms are further explained within the Electronic Course Submission System (ECSS) to which access will be given once eligibility to be a state-wide course catalog provider has been verified.

Online Course Eligibility

Online courses included in the TxVSN state-wide course catalog must meet the basic definitions set forth by Senate Bill 1788 and Texas Education Code Chapter 30A. Online courses are defined as follows: instruction and content are delivered primarily over the Internet, a student and teacher are in different locations for a majority of the student’s instructional period, most instructional activities take place in an online environment, the online instructional activities are integral to the academic program, extensive communication between a student and a teacher and among students is emphasized, and a student is not required to be located on the physical premises of a school district or open enrollment charter school.

Before moving on to the course submission process, a potential provider district should self evaluate their course(s) to verify that they meet the above definition of an online course.

As TxVSN builds its course offerings for schools, the courses to be reviewed by TxVSN for Grades 9-12 shall include a full range of course options that are needed to complete high school graduation requirements (Recommended Plan) found in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74. Priority will be given to foundation courses that satisfy the new 4:4 requirements in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Also included in the array of course options are Advanced Placement courses, languages other than English and the classroom portion of a driver education and traffic safety course.

Course Submission

When submitting a course for review, potential Provider Districts will supply general course information such as course name, PEIMS number, semesters, contact information, and technical requirements. TxVSN Course Review will also need course access and login information for each Reviewer. Details and submission forms are further explained within the Electronic Course Submission System (ECSS) which you will be given access to once you have become an office TxVSN State-wide Course Catalog provider. 

The Course Review Process

Prior to being entered into the TxVSN State-wide Course Catalog, courses are reviewed for alignment to course TEKS, the North American Council for Online Learning National Standards of Quality for Online Courses, and for online content accessibility (Rehabilitation Act: Section 508 and ADA Title II compliance).

Once approved by TxVSN, the online course catalog displays all approved courses with each course description and its objectives, associated technology specifications, schedule, assessments, costs, and other relevant data for each TxVSN Provider District. School personnel and students can review options to select the course that best meets students’ needs.

Course review consists of evaluating one online course whether it is a single semester course or a full year course.

If you are interested in a detailed description of the Course Review Process, please submit your request to TxVSNCourseReview@txvsn.org.