20-7-1201. Montana digital academy -- purposes -- governance. (1) There is a Montana digital academy at a unit of the Montana university system.

(2) The purposes of the Montana digital academy are to:

(a) make distance learning opportunities available to all school-age children through public school districts in the state of Montana;

(b) offer high-quality instructors who are licensed and endorsed in Montana and courses that are in compliance with all relevant education and distance learning rules, standards, and policies; and

(c) emphasize the core subject matters required under the accreditation standards, offer advanced courses for dual credit in collaboration with the Montana university system, and offer enrichment courses.

(3) The Montana digital academy must be governed by a board with equal representation from:

(a) the commissioner of higher education or a designee;

(b) the superintendent of public instruction or a designee;

(c) a Montana-licensed and Montana-endorsed classroom teacher appointed by the board of public education;

(d) a Montana-licensed school district administrator appointed by the board of public education;

(e) a trustee of a Montana school district appointed by the board of public education;

(f) the dean of the school of education of the hosting unit of the Montana university system or a designee as a nonvoting member; and

(g) the two officers provided for in subsection (5) as nonvoting members.

(4) The governing board shall elect a presiding officer and vice presiding officer to 2-year terms without limitation on the number of terms.

(5) The governing board shall hire a program director and a curriculum director who shall serve as chief executive officer and vice chief executive officer respectively on the governing board in a nonvoting capacity. The program director shall develop and, upon approval of the governing board, implement and publish policies and guidelines for the Montana digital academy pertaining to:

(a) course offerings;

(b) software and hardware selection;

(c) instructor selection;

(d) partnering school agreements;

(e) instructor training and curriculum development;

(f) course evaluation;

(g) grant opportunities; and

(h) other activities that are essential to the success of a statewide distance learning program.