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Weber School District names statewide online program 'Innovation Online' and wins SOEP approval
Summary
The Weber School District board approved renaming its consolidated middle- and high-school online program "Innovation Online," and accepted State Board designation as a Statewide Online Education Provider (SOEP) with permission to open statewide enrollment this August.
The Weber School District board voted June 10 to rename the district’s consolidated secondary online program Innovation Online and to present that name as it begins operating as a Statewide Online Education Provider (SOEP).
The change combines the district’s separate middle‑school and high‑school online offerings under one program name. Staff said the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has approved the district as an SOEP and granted an exception allowing the program to open to students statewide this August.
Matt Williams, staff member, told the board the district had surveyed students, parents and staff about the name and program structure and recommended combining Weber Online 7–8 and Weber Online 9–12 into one program. “Our official recommendation to you is for Weber online 7 8, and Weber online 9 12 be consolidated into 1 program, and that the name would be Innovation Online,” Williams said. He noted the committee that recommended the change included parents, students, teachers, classified staff, administrators, a facilities director, the foundation director and a board member.
Blake Pope, staff member who led the SOEP application work, said the USBE normally requires new SOEPs to wait a year before beginning statewide enrollment but that Weber had been given an exception. “We’ve been granted an exception, that we can start this August,” Pope said.
Officials said the district will continue charging a $35-per-course term fee for enrollment; in‑district students will not incur an additional out‑of‑district tuition charge under the plan presented. Pope also said staff will work on a marketing and outreach plan, including state registry listing, social media and advertising, but emphasized that the strongest recruitment tool will be positive word-of-mouth from families and teachers.
The board moved to approve the new program name and the recommendation to operate statewide; the motion carried on a voice vote with no opposition.
Board members said they hope the consolidated program will make online offerings more marketable beyond Weber County and let the district retain students who currently enroll in other districts’ online programs.
