The Eby Learning Center (Eby), located in Newton, Kansas, is a public school in the Newton School District. Eby provides secondary education in compliance with Kansas law and is, therefore, an educational institution for SSA purposes.

You have requested a legal opinion regarding whether Eby Learning Center (Eby) in Newton, Kansas, is an “educational institution” within the meaning of section 202(d)(7) of the Social Security Act (the Act), 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(7). You also asked whether Michael P~, a student at Eby, qualified as a full-time student under the Act. Based on the information you have provided, Eby’s and the Kansas State Department of Education’s websites, and information from an Eby employee, we conclude that Eby qualifies as an educational institution within the meaning of the Kansas education statutes and 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(7), and that Mr. P~ qualified as a full-time student under the Act through May 25, 2011.

Factual Background

The materials you provided indicate that Mr. P~ received child’s insurance benefits until he turned 18 on April 12, 2011. On April 18, 2011, Eby’s principal – Vicki R~ – certified on Mr. P~’s SSA-1372 that he enrolled at Eby on April 4, 2011, that he attended Eby for 35 hours a week while enrolled, and that Ms. R~ anticipated that he would graduate on May 26, 2011. Ms. R~ also certified that Eby’s course of study was at least 13 weeks in duration, that Eby operated on a quarterly or semester basis, that Eby did not require reenrollment, and that Eby’s school year ended on May 25, 2011. 

It appears that there are two Eby Learning Centers in Newton, Kansas: “Eby Learning Center I” (Eby I) and “Eby Learning Center II” (Eby II). See http://online.ksde.org/rcard/list_schools.aspx?org_no=D0373 (last visited Sept. 15, 2011). Additional information from Eby’s website indicates that the school is part of Newton Public Schools (Unified School District #373), and is located on the United Methodist Youthville (Youthville) campus. See http://www.newton.k12.ks.us/sch/eby/ (last visited Sept. 15, 2011).

I contacted Regina B~, Eby’s secretary, for some additional information about the school. Ms. B~ indicated that Eby is an accredited public school operated by the Newton School District. She stated that the school is not associated with Youthville, but uses one of Youthville’s buildings. The Newton School District employs all of Eby’s teachers. Ms. B~ stated that there is “no real difference” between Eby I and Eby II, but she believed that Eby I was the high school (grades 9 through 12), and that Eby II was the middle school (grades 2 through 8).

Ms. B~ told me that Eby is a “special day school” that provides education for grades 2 through 12 pursuant to individualized education plans (IEPs). Under Kansas law, IEPs are written statements that are developed to provide an educational plan for exceptional children. See Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 72-962(r), 72-987. Kansas law defines “exceptional” children to include “persons who are children with disabilities or gifted children and are school age.” See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-962(g).

 Most of Eby students are taught in a traditional classroom setting. Some of Eby’s students participate in virtual prescriptive learning (VPL) classes instead of traditional classes. In VPL classes, Eby requires students to be present at the school from 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., but allows the students to work on lessons at their own pace. Teachers are available during VPL classes to provide assistance and instruction. Ms. B~ stated that when a student completes all of Eby’s requirements, the student is awarded a high school diploma from Newton High School.

Analysis

Section 202(d) of the Social Security Act provides that child’s insurance benefits usually terminate when the child attains age 18. See 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(6) and (7). Entitlement to child’s benefits may continue, however, if (among other things) the child “was a full-time elementary or secondary student and had not attained the age of 19.” See 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(1). A full-time elementary or secondary student is defined as “an individual who is in full-time attendance as a student at an elementary or secondary school, as determined by the [Commissioner] (in accordance with regulations prescribed by [him]) in the light of the standards and practices of the schools involved . . . .” 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(7)(A). An elementary or secondary school is defined as “a school which provides elementary or secondary education, respectively, as determined under the law of the State or other jurisdiction in which it is located.” 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(7)(C)(i).

The first issue is whether Eby qualifies as an educational institution under Kansas law. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(a) (2011); Program Operations Manual System (POMS) RS 00205.200.A. As defined in Kansas’s statutes relating to schools, a “public school” is a “school operated by a unified school district organized under the laws of [Kansas],” and a “secondary school” is a “nonprofit institutional day or residential school that offers instruction in any or all of the grades nine through 12.” See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-962(y) (Special Education for Exceptional Children Act), 72-89a01 (Weapon-Free Schools Act).

As discussed above, Kansas’s Unified School District 373 operates Eby, and the school offers instruction for grades 9 through 12. Eby is also accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education. See http://online.ksde.org/rcard/building.aspx?org_no=D0373&bldg_no=4818http://online.ksde.org/rcard/building.aspx?org_no=D0373&bldg_no=4817 (last visited Sept. 15, 2011); (last visited Sept. 15, 2011). Consequently, we believe that Eby is a public, secondary school under Kansas law, and can be considered to be an educational institution. See also POMS RS 00205.250.B.A (the agency assumes that public high and junior-high schools are educational institutions). Although Mr. P~ may participate in an IEP or VPL classes, Kansas’s Special Education for Exceptional Children Act, Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-961 et al., authorizes public school districts to educate children using those means.

A second issue is whether Mr. P~ was a full-time student through May 25, 2011. In order to be “full-time,” a student must spend at least 20 hours a week attending a course that lasts at least 13 weeks. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(c). As discussed above, Ms. R~ certified that Mr. P~ attended Eby for 35 hours per week, and that Eby’s course of study lasted at least 13 weeks. Although it appears that Mr. P~ attended Eby for less than 8 weeks, POMS RS 00205.315.B provides that a student who attends any portion of a 13-week course meets the durational requirement, and that students are not required to attend the entire duration of the course.

Conclusion Based on all of the above, we believe that Eby qualifies as an educational institution within the meaning of the Kansas education statutes and 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(7). We also believe that Mr. P~ qualified as a full-time student under the Act through May 25, 2011.

Kristi A. S~

Chief Counsel, Region VII

By_______

Blakely J. P~

Assistant Regional Counsel

Virtual schools approved by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) provide education in compliance with Kansas law and are, therefore, educational institutions for SSA purposes. A list of KSDE-approved virtual schools is available here . If a student attends a virtual school that is not on this list, do not assume the school is an educational institution for SSA purposes. Instead, determine whether the student meets the state's home school requirements. For instructions about home school requirements in Kansas, see PR 08005.019.

You previously requested our opinion as to whether the Missouri "Virtual Instruction Program" (or, "MoVIP") qualifies under section 202(d)(7) of the Social Security Act (the Act), 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(7), as a school that provides elementary or secondary education in accordance with the laws of the state. We advised that the MoVIP program, either used alone or in conjunction with an otherwise-qualified school or home school program, may be used to confer full-time attendance (FTA) status to a student. Now, you have requested further opinions about similar programs in the other states of our region.

The region's state programs vary widely in the types of classes offered and the degree of state government oversight. Kansas and Missouri programs meet the requirements of § 202(d)(7), either alone or in conjunction with traditional classroom instruction. Iowa has a state-run "virtual" Internet program, but it is essentially used only to offer additional classes to students physically attending a traditional school. Nebraska has passed legislation demonstrating intent to begin a state-run virtual school program, but it does not have such a program at this time.

Legal Background

Section 202(d) of the Social Security Act provides that child's insurance benefits usually terminate when the child attains age 18. See 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(6) and (7). Entitlement to child's benefits may continue, however, if (among other things) the child "was a full-time elementary or secondary student and had not attained the age of 19." 42 U.S.C. § 402(d)(1). A full-time elementary or secondary student is defined as an individual who is in full-time attendance as a student at an elementary or secondary school, as determined by the Commissioner in the light of the standards and practices of the schools involved. See id. at § 402(d)(7)(A). An elementary or secondary school is defined as "a school which provides elementary or secondary education, respectively, as determined under the law of the State or other jurisdiction in which it is located." Id. at § 402(d)(7)(C)(i). See also POMS RS 00205.200 (defining "educational institution). Except for two specific exceptions noted in the Social Security regulations, the student must be scheduled to attend school for at least 20 hours per week in order to be considered in full-time attendance. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(c) (2007). In order to qualify for benefits, a full-time student may attend a school that provides elementary or secondary education as determined under the laws of the state where the school is located; or study as a home school student, a correspondence student, or an independent study. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(a).

Iowa

Since 2004, Iowa has had two state-led programs for high school students (grades 9-12), called "Iowa Learning Online," or ILO, and "Iowa Online AP Academy." ILO is a program of the Iowa Department of Education, but there is no particular authorizing legislation. See John W~, and Jennifer R~, et al., Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: a Review of State-Level Policy and Practice (Keeping Pace), 82-83 (2007) (available at http://www.evergreenassoc.com/documents/KeepingPace2006.pdf). Instructors are fully accredited by the state. See ILO, Frequently Asked Questions (ILO FAQ), available at http://iowalearningonline.org/faq.cfm. The ILO does not appear to be a large program. One source states that there were only 250 students enrolled in a recent summer program.

The ILO program expects students to "attend" virtual Internet courses at a school building. See ILO FAQ. The program contemplates students attending the classes via Internet video feed in a classroom or computer lab at their school, with additional supervision from an on-site teacher. Id. It is intended to help students to take particular subjects that may not be offered in their local school. Id. In other words, the Iowa program appears to be conducted in the same way as normal school attendance. From SSA's viewpoint, the program should be indistinguishable from normal schooling. Therefore, a student utilizing ILO for a portion or the whole of his classes will be attending a school in accordance with the laws of his state, and he will likely be using combined classroom and virtual teaching to meet the full-time attendance requirement. See 42 U.S.C. § 402(d); 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(b) (2007) (full-time attendance requirement met for students in day course of 13 weeks duration, and carrying a subject load which is considered full time).

Kansas

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) does not conduct a state-led virtual school program, but it has an extensive program of approved virtual school programs. KSDE requires that various district and private virtual schools register with the state, and submit to "perhaps the most-developed and well-documented system for tracking online programs" if they wish to receive government funding. Keeping Pace at 85. As a result, Kansas "virtual schools" programs are extensive and varied, and include a number of "cyber charter schools" and online programs run by local districts. Id. See also 2007-2008 Kansas Virtual Schools, available at http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=GSr3jZr5PUI=&tabid=455 (PDF file containing 35 currently-registered schools, including both local school districts and charter-type schools). See also Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1903 (providing for "charter schools" to be accredited by the state). To receive funding, virtual schools must meet all standards required by the state, including ensuring that students undergo required state assessments for their grade level, and that courses are aligned to state standards. See Keeping Pace at 86. In addition, Kansas requires verification of "enrolled and attending" students through an "Academic Activity Log." Id. at 85.

A student may use the KSDE virtual school program to meet the requirements of a "full-time" student. A student attending a virtual public or charter school which has qualified for funding is clearly complying with "the law of the State . . . in which it is located." See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(a) (2007). According to Kansas statutes, a child under age 16 must attend continuously each school year either a public school or "a private, denominational or parochial school taught by a competent instructor for a period of time which is substantially equivalent to the period of time public school is maintained in the school district in which the private, denominational or parochial school is located." Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1111(a). The Kansas statutes require that a school term must consist of 186 school days, no less than 6 hours per day for grades kindergarten through 11, and slightly less for grade 12. In the alternative, the school term must consist of 1,116 hours per year for grades one through eleven, and again, slightly less for grade 12. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1106(a) and (b) (Supp. 1996). There are different attendance requirements for religious school or parochial students, which may have virtual school students, but they are still expected to be engaged in at least five hours of school work per day. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1111(f). According to a telephone conversation with Staci W~, Coordinator of Educational Alternatives at KSDE, any student utilizing a Kansas public virtual school program will comply with public school attendance requirements. In fact, she mentioned that students' time spent in schooling is often automatically tracked by their computer. Such a virtual school student will therefore be in compliance with both Kansas and SSA attendance requirements. Thus, a student will also meet SSA's 20-hour per week attendance requirement. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(c) (2007).

Interestingly, Ms. W~ noted that home school students often enroll in virtual school programs, and that the state then considers such students as normal full-time students whose time and production is carefully tracked. On the other hand, it is possible that a student may claim to be a full-time student using a Kansas virtual school program, but whose school does not appear on the list of virtual schools, cited above. In this case, it may be that the school has not met the stringent state requirements required to receive funding. Such a student should be assessed as if he were a home school student in accordance with the POMS and previous opinions provided by this office.

Missouri

The Missouri virtual school program, or MoVIP, is designed to "offer instruction in a virtual setting using technology, intranet, and/or Internet methods of communication." Mo. Rev. Stat. § 161.670.1 (2007). A "full-time equivalent student" is a student who has "successfully completed the instructional equivalent of six credits per term." Id. Each "virtual course shall count as one class and shall generate that portion of a full-time equivalent that a comparable course offered by the school district would generate." Mo. Rev. Stat. § 161.670.2. In addition, the virtual instruction program must comply with all laws and regulations applying to schools. See Mo. Rev. Stat. § 161.670.4. The Missouri program is more closely tied to the school administration program at the state level than the Kansas program. Students participating in the program are guided in their studies by Missouri certified teachers, and courses are to be delivered through use of the Internet, including streaming audio and video, e-mail, chat rooms, bulletin boards, and so on. Teachers are to directly communicate with students via telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, and discussion forums. See "MoVIP Frequently Asked Questions," http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/movip/faq.html.

As noted in our previous opinion, a student using the MoVIP for all or a portion of his schooling may clearly be a full-time student under SSA regulations. See, e.g., Chris H~, "MoVip off to a smooth start," Southeast Missourian (August 27, 2007), available at http://www.semissourian.com/story/1249300.html (students describing using MoVIP for a portion of schooling). As previously noted, a MoVIP student is attending an educational institution in accordance with the laws of the state of Missouri. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(a)(2). See also POMS RS 00205.285 ("Independent study programs are run by local education agencies . . . in accordance with specific State law requirements, and the credits earned count toward high school graduation. The programs involve periodic teacher contact, direction, and testing on campus, with the student making academic progress generally through independent study at home."). A student attending MoVIP for all of her schooling is considered by the state to be full-time if she carries "the instructional equivalent of six credits per term." Mo. Rev. Stat. § 161.670.2. Therefore, in order to meet the state standard, the factfinder will have to assess whether the student is receiving the required six credits. The student must also be attending the school 20 hours per week. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.367(b) (2007). Because of the demands of obtaining 6 credits, it appears likely that any MoVIP student will also be receiving the required 20 hours of instruction if she is taking the required 6 credits, but both the regulations and POMS state that such an analysis must be undertaken.

Nebraska

Nebraska does not appear to have a virtual school program at this time. Legislation was passed in August 2006 to develop infrastructure for such a program, so there may be one in the future. See Keeping Pace at 93. See also National Council for Online Learning (NACOL), "Nebraska," found at http://www.edgateway.net/cs/nacol/view/states/27.

The state has two "online learning programs" for high school students but these are not virtual schools as contemplated by this opinion. A website for one of the schools uses Internet resources for some limited lesson presentations and parent communications. See, generally, Westside Community Schools, available at http://www.westside66.org/wcs/site/default.asp. The other program, from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, offers college preparation independent courses to be used as a part of a regular school or home school program, but the program is longstanding, and should be classified as an accredited independent study program. See University of Nebraska - Lincoln, "Independent Study High School Frequently Asked Questions," found at http://nebraskahs.unl.edu/faq.shtml. See also POMS RS 00205.285 ("Independent study programs are run by local education agencies . . . in accordance with specific State law requirements, and the credits earned count toward high school graduation. The programs involve periodic teacher contact, direction, and testing on campus, with the student making academic progress generally through independent study at home."). Therefore, to the extent that Nebraska offers online classes, these are not virtual school programs that could qualify independently as educational institutions.

Kristi A. S~

Acting Chief Counsel, Region VII

By

Kevin B. M~

Assistant Regional Counsel

The Word of Life Traditional School in Wichita, Kansas, provides elementary and secondary education under Kansas law and is, therefore, an educational institution for SSA purposes.

You requested advice regarding whether the claimant, Nicholas R. M~, was attending a school that provides elementary or secondary education. You referenced Program Operations Manual System (POMS) RS 00205.250 and asked whether this school complied with this POMS section. Based upon the facts presented, it is reasonable to conclude that the school meets the definition of an educational institution.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The materials that you sent with your request show that the beneficiary, Nicholas R. M~, is currently attending Word of Life Traditional School in Wichita, Kansas. The school stated that it follows the same calendar schedule as other Kansas public schools but was not State accredited. The school is registered with the Kansas Department of Education. See Kansas Department of Education, "Non-Accredited Non-Public Elementary and Secondary Schools," http://www.ksde.org/eddir/privnon.pdf (visited 11/9/05). On an SSA Form 1372-BK the beneficiary certified that he was attending Word of Life Traditional School and that this was a high school program which he attended full time. The school followed the public school calendar and was in session from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. including a half-hour lunch period. Students attended seven classes per day for one hour per class from Monday through Thursday.

Analysis and Opinion

We have previously addressed this issue in POMS PR 08005.019 KANSAS, which is current and may be applied to this situation and other situations involving home schooling or non-accredited private schools. Kansas statutes do not require that a school be "accredited." Non-accredited school attendance can, and often does, satisfy state compulsory attendance laws. See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1111. Instructors in non-accredited schools need not be certified as teachers by the state, but they must be "competent instructors." Id. Non-accredited schools must registered with the state, and registration consists of filling out a form provided by the State. See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-53, 101. Registration may be made on-line. See Kansas Department of Education, Non-Accredited Private School Registration, available at http://www.ksde.org/outcomes/nonaccred.html (visited 11/9/05). In the case of Word of Life Traditional School, it is a non-accredited school which is registered with the Kansas Department of Education.

Based on the information you have obtained, Word of Life Traditional School complies with Kansas compulsory attendance laws. The school day is sufficient, the school year is of sufficient length, and there is no evidence to suggest that their teachers are not "competent." We advise that, given the information provided, Word of Life Traditional School is an educational institution under POMS RS 00205.250.

Frank V. S~ III

Chief Counsel, Region VII

By___________

Bert W. C~

Assistant Regional Counsel