MOCAP

Senate Bill 603 and House Bill 1552 changed the face of Virtual Education in Missouri.  Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP), formerly known as MOVIP, allows local school districts to offer DESE approved vendors the ability to offer online courses to local students with District approval.  Students are guided through courses based on Missouri Learning Standards delivered by Missouri certified teachers through an online delivery platform selected by the District and the parent.

MOCAP allows Missouri school districts to:  explain the range of course offerings, offer students a course not offered by the school district, provide courses for students with schedules that prevent them from taking a course when it is offered, offer alternative education opportunities for students on homebound and/or hospitalized, and provide additional support for students who failed to achieve in the regular course.

MOCAP Virtual Instruction can be an effective option for some students.  Virtual education is offered through district staff or by contracting services through a district approved vendor that offers courses based on Missouri Learning Standards.

Festus R-VI will pay the costs of a virtual course only if the district has first approved the student’s enrollment in the course as outlined in our school policy.  The student must have a current ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Plan) in place indicating the need for virtual instruction.  The district is not required to provide students access to or pay for courses beyond the equivalent of full time enrollment.

Students who are still enrolled with the Festus R-VI school district and are taking approved courses virtually are subject to district policies, procedures, and rules applicable to students enrolled in traditional courses including, but not limited to, the district’s discipline code and prohibitions of academic dishonesty, discrimination, harassment, bullying and cyberbullying.

 The following guidelines apply to students who are still enrolled in the Festus R-VI School District, but are taking individual courses through a virtual provider. 

Participation Guidelines

• Students will be allowed to enroll in a MOCAP course only if it is determined by the building principal, in conjunction with the school counselor (and/or IEP team), that virtual education is in the best educational interest of the student.  If it is determined that virtual enrollment is not the best educational option for the student, they will be denied enrollment.  The student and his/her guardian have the option to appeal the decision to the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.
• Students must register during the designated registration window for the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Students must continue to make adequate progress (completing assignments, passing grades at each grade check, etc) in the online course, or they will be dropped from the course and credit will not be granted.  Progress checks will be conducted every 4 weeks.
• Students taking online courses must have an ICAP (individual career and academic plan).
• If a student fails a virtual course, they cannot enroll in any other virtual courses during the following semester.
• Internet access is not provided for courses taken off campus.
• Full time students wanting to participate in a virtual course will be assigned MOCAP in their schedule and will complete their coursework during that period.
• Chromebooks are provided to all students enrolled in the 7-12th grade.  We will provide technical support while the student is on campus, but we will not provide technical support for the use of the learning management system used by the virtual course provider.
• The teacher supervising MOCAP is the teacher of record.  However, students needing assistance in the virtual course will contact the online instructor through the course provider.
• Festus R-VI will not pay for classes that cause a student to exceed a normal 7 period school day.  Students are welcome to take additional courses outside of the school day at their own expense.
• All virtual instruction is governed by school board policy (Policy IGCD).
• All graduation policies regarding credit requirements still apply (Policy IKF).
• All policies regarding extracurricular participation still apply (Policy IGD).
• Students approved to take courses online will still be required to complete the required state and local assessments on the scheduled dates:
  • MAP Grade Level Assessments (ELA, MA, and Science)
  • Algebra I EOC
  • Biology I EOC
  • English II EOC
  • Government EOC
  • United States Civics Test
  • Missouri Constitution Test
  • CPR

If you are requesting enrollment in a credit-bearing virtual coursework, the first step in the process is to meet with your school counselor and/or administration.  Then complete the MOCAP Virtual Application.

Festus High School    636,937.5944

Jennifer Kline at klinejennifer@festusedu.com

Amanda Esparza at esparzaamanda@festusedu.com

Angie Macy at macyangie@festusedu.com

Alan Woodland at woodlandalan@festusedu.com

Festus Middle School    636.937.5417

Sarah Doenges at doengessarah@festusedu.com 

Joseph Fehlker at felhkerjoseph@festusedu.com 

Festus Intermediate School    636.937.4750

Shannon Helms at helmsshannon@festusedu.com

Stacy King at kingstacy@festusedu.com 

Festus Elementary School    636.937.4063

Angie Eisenbeis at eisenbeisangie@festusedu.com 

Tricia Nahlik at nahliktricia@festusedu.com

Kamara Johnson at johnsonkamara@festusedu.com

Please remember that any student who enrolls full-time with a MOCAP vendor, such as Missouri Online Digital Academy (MOVA), Missouri Online Virtual Academy (MOVA), Launch, etc. is no longer considered a Festus R-VI student.  Full–time programs offered through MOCAP are hosted by other school districts.  Parents and students should be aware that by electing full-time virtual placement they are not earning a Festus-quality education, will not earn a diploma from Festus High School, will not be permitted to participate in Festus High School’s graduation ceremony, and will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities through the Festus School District.  For all purposes, students will become attendees of their host district and online provider and are subject to the policies and procedures of those entities