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AGENDA ITEM REPORT

Title: Report on Request to Amend Regulations 1052 and 1053 - Move Regulation 1052(e) to Regulation 1053 and Rename Distance Learning Course Certification
REPORT PROFILE
MEETING DATE
2/24/2021
BUREAU SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
Training Delivery and Compliance Services Bureau
RESEARCHED BY (PRINT NAME)
Michelle Weiler
REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME)
REPORT DATE
12/02/2020
APPROVED BY
Manuel Alvarez, Jr.
DATE APPROVED
02/05/21
PURPOSE
Decision Requested
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No

ISSUE:
Should the Commission approve the amendments to Regulations 1052 and 1053 to combine all regulations related distance learning under Regulation 1053 and rename as Requirements for Distance Learning Course Certification?
BACKGROUND:

On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order as a means to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 in California. As a result, agencies and presenters had to cease in-person training. In an attempt to continue providing training, agencies and presenters began to look to distance learning as a viable training option. Governor Newsom has made distance learning a priority, and funding was allocated for the purpose of promoting distance learning among law enforcement in California in the State budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year.

Based on the Governor's directive, POST staff have encouraged agencies and presenters to transition existing in-person courses or develop new courses for various online formats. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact law enforcement training throughout the State, POST staff and many training presenters see distance learning as a training tool that will have usefulness long after COVID-19 has passed. However, in reviewing existing Regulations related to the different course types used for distance learning, POST staff found that the language of these Regulations is outdated.

ANALYSIS:

In reviewing Regulations related to course types used for distance learning, POST staff discovered that the language of these Regulations is outdated. Among these is Regulation 1052(e) - Webinars, and Regulation 1053 - Requirements for Self-Paced Training Course Certification.

A review of Regulations 1052(e) and 1053, respectively, found that some terms and requirements for course certification related to distance learning are outdated and reference terms, phrases, or practices no longer considered relevant or current by industry standards. With the contemporary emphasis on distance learning, it is important that POST keeps abreast of current industry standards and facilitates the understanding of these standards among its participating law enforcement agencies and training partners.

POST staff has reviewed terms and best practices in distance learning that reflect current industry standards and conferred with subject matter experts within and outside of POST. Staff identified several aspects of the identified Regulations that need updating and propose amendments to key terms, phrases and practices to reflect industry standards in a way that would be most applicable to the needs of providing law enforcement training in all appropriate distance learning platforms. These include updates to address instructor-led online (ILO) courses, blended learning courses, self-paced courses (including the Form 2-124 Self-Paced Training Course Certification Request), and hybrid courses.

POST staff propose to remove Regulation 1052(e) - Webinars from said Regulation and add this content to Regulation 1053, with previously mentioned industry standard updates and additional language to address blended learning and POST Quality Assurance Program (QAP) Review. Additionally, POST staff propose to rename Regulation 1053 as "Requirements for Distance Learning Course Certification."

Combining Regulation 1052(e) with 1053 and renaming it will allow for all regulatory guidelines related to distance learning to be listed under one regulation and streamline the process for this type of course development and certification review for law enforcement training presenters and POST staff.

Adding a section to address blended learning will allow presenters with additional flexibility to provide training in a hybrid format that incorporates synchronous and asynchronous learning strategies.

Adding a section advising of the QAP review process ensures that ILO courses are subject to the same review process as in-person instructor-led courses.

RECOMMENDATION:

POST staff recommend the Commission approve the amendments as specified to Regulations 1052 and 1053, respectively, to combine all regulations related to distance learning under Regulation 1053 and rename it as "Requirements for Distance Learning Course Certification."

If the Commission concurs, the appropriate action would be a MOTION to approve the proposed changes to Regulation 1052 and Regulation 1053 as specified.

 
ATTACHMENT(S):
Name: Type:
1052_Requirements_for_Course_Certification_Remove_1052e.pdf Exhibit
1053_Requirements_for_Distance_Learning_Course_Certification.v8.pdf Exhibit
2-124_Self-paced_Training_Course_Certification_Request_Oct2020.pdf Exhibit