624 - Online Instruction

ONLINE INSTRUCTION

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to recognize and govern online instruction options of students
enrolled in the school district for purposes of compulsory attendance and address
enrollment of students with an online instruction site for supplemental or full-time online
learning.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

A. The school district shall not prohibit an enrolled student from applying to enroll in
online instruction.

B. The school district shall grant academic credit for completing the requirements of
an online instruction course or program.

III. DEFINITIONS

A. "Blended instruction" means a form of digital instruction that occurs when a student
learns part time in a supervised physical setting and part time through online
instruction under paragraph (E).

B. "Digital instruction" means instruction facilitated by technology that offers students
an element of control over the time, place, path, or pace of learning and includes
blended and online instruction.

C. "Enrolling district" means the school district in which a student is enrolled under
Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.22, subdivision 4.

D. "Online course syllabus" means a written document that identifies the state
academic standards taught and assessed in a supplemental online course under
paragraph (I); course content outline; required course assessments; instructional
methods; communication procedures with students, guardians, and the enrolling
district under paragraph (C); and supports available to the student.

E. "Online instruction" means a form of digital instruction that occurs when a student
learns primarily through digital technology away from a supervised physical
setting.

F. "Online instructional site" means a site that offers courses using online instruction
under paragraph (E) and may enroll students receiving online instruction under paragraph (E).

G. "Online teacher" means an employee of the enrolling district under paragraph (C)
or the supplemental online course provider under paragraph (J) who holds the
appropriate licensure under Minnesota Rules, chapter 8710, and is trained to
provide online instruction under paragraph (E).

H. "Student" means a Minnesota resident enrolled in a school defined under Minnesota
Statutes, section 120A.22, subdivision 4, in kindergarten through grade 12 up to the
age of 21.

I. "Supplemental online course" means an online learning course taken in place of a
course provided by the student's enrolling district under paragraph (C).

J. "Supplemental online course provider" means a school district, an intermediate
school district, an organization of two or more school districts operating under a
joint powers agreement, or a charter school located in Minnesota that is authorized
by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to provide supplemental online
courses under paragraph (I).

IV. DIGITAL INSTRUCTION

A. An enrolling district may provide digital instruction, including blended instruction
and online instruction, to the district's own enrolled students. Enrolling districts
may establish agreements to provide digital instruction, including blended
instruction and online instruction, to students enrolled in the cooperating schools.

B. When online instruction is provided, an online teacher shall perform all duties of
teacher of record under Minnesota Rules, part 8710.0310. Unless the
Commissioner of MDE grants a waiver, a teacher providing online instruction shall
not instruct more than 40 students in any one online learning course or section.

C. Students receiving online instruction full time shall be reported as enrolled in an
online instructional site.

D. Curriculum used for digital instruction shall be aligned with Minnesota's current
academic standards and benchmarks.

E. Digital instruction shall be accessible to students under section 504 of the federal
Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

F. An enrolling district providing digital instruction and a supplemental online course
provider shall assist an enrolled student whose family qualifies for the education
tax credit under Minnesota Statutes, section 290.0674 to acquire computer
hardware and educational software so they may participate in digital instruction.
Funds provided to a family to support digital instruction or supplemental online courses may only be used for qualifying expenses as determined by the provider.
Nonconsumable materials purchased with public education funds remain the
property of the provider. Records for any funds provided must be available for
review by the public or MDE.

G. An enrolling district providing digital instruction shall establish and document
procedures for determining attendance for membership and keep accurate records
of daily attendance under Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.21.

V. SUPPLEMENTAL ONLINE COURSES

A. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.03 and 124D.08 and
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124E, procedures for applying to take supplemental
online courses other than those offered by the student's enrolling district are as
provided in this subdivision.

B. Any kindergarten through grade 12 student may apply to take a supplemental online
course. The student, or the student's parent or guardian for a student under age 17,
must submit an application for the proposed supplemental online course or courses.
A student may:

1. apply to take an online course from a supplemental online course provider
that meets or exceeds the academic standards of the course in the enrolling
district they are replacing;

2. apply to take supplemental online courses for up to 50 percent of the
student's scheduled course load; and

3. apply to take supplemental online courses no later than 15 school days after
the student's enrolling district's term has begun. An enrolling district may
waive the 50 percent course enrollment limit or the 15-day time limit.

C. A student taking a supplemental online course must have the same access to the
computer hardware and education software available in a school as all other
students in the enrolling district.

D. A supplemental online course provider must have a current, approved application
to be listed by MDE as an approved provider. The supplemental online course
provider must:

1. use an application form specified by MDE;

2. notify the student, the student's guardian if they are age 17 or younger, and
enrolling district of the accepted application to take a supplemental online
course within ten days of receiving a completed application;

3. notify the enrolling district of the course title, credits to be awarded, and the
start date of the online course. A supplemental online course provider must
make the online course syllabus available to the enrolling district;

4. request applicable academic support information for the student, including
a copy of the IEP, EL support plan, or 504 plan; and

5. track student attendance and monitor academic progress and communicate
with the student, the student's guardian if they are age 17 or younger, and
the enrolling district's designated online learning liaison.

E. A supplemental online course provider may limit enrollment if the provider's school
board or board of directors adopts by resolution specific standards for accepting
and rejecting students' applications. The provisions may not discriminate against
any protected class or students with disabilities.

F. A supplemental online course provider may request that MDE review an enrolling
district's written decision to not accept a student's supplemental online course
application. The student may participate in the supplemental online course while
the application is under review. Decisions shall be final and binding for both the
enrolling district and the supplemental online course provider.

G. A supplemental online course provider must participate in continuous improvement
cycles with MDE.

VI. ENROLLING DISTRICT

A. An enrolling district may not restrict or prevent a student from applying to take
supplemental online courses.

B. An enrolling district may request an online course syllabus to review whether the
academic standards in the online course meet or exceed the academic standards in
the course it would replace at the enrolling district.

C. Within 15 days after receiving notice of a student applying to take a supplemental
online course, the enrolling district must notify the supplemental online course
provider whether the student, the student's guardian, and the enrolling district agree
that academic standards in the online course meet or exceed the academic standards
in the course it would replace at the enrolling district. If the enrolling district does
not agree that the academic standards in the online course meet or exceed the
academic standards in the course it would replace at the enrolling district, then:

1. the enrolling district must provide a written explanation of the district's
decision to the student, the student's guardian, and the supplemental online
course provider; and

2. the online provider must provide a response to the enrolling district
explaining how the course or program meets the graduation requirements of
the enrolling district.

D. An enrolling district may reduce the course schedule of a student taking
supplemental online courses in proportion to the number of supplemental online
learning courses the student takes.

E. An enrolling district must appoint an online learning liaison who:

1. provides information to students and families about supplemental online
courses;

2. provides academic support information including IEPs, EL support plans,
and 504 plans to supplemental online providers; and

3. monitors attendance and academic progress, and communicates with
supplemental online learning providers, students, families, and enrolling
district staff.

F. An enrolling district must continue to provide support services to students taking
supplemental online courses as they would for any other enrolled student including
support for English learners, case management of an individualized education
program, and meal and nutrition services for eligible students.

G. An online learning student must receive academic credit for completing the
requirements of a supplemental online learning course. If a student completes an
online learning course that meets or exceeds a graduation standard or the grade
progression requirement at the enrolling district, that standard or requirement is
met.

H. Secondary credits granted to a supplemental online learning student count toward
the graduation and credit requirements of the enrolling district. The enrolling
district must apply the same graduation requirements to all students, including
students taking supplemental online courses.

I. An enrolling district must provide access to extracurricular activities for students
taking supplemental online courses on the same basis as any other enrolled student.

VII. REPORTING

Courses that include blended instruction and online instruction must be reported in the
manner determined by the Commissioner of MDE.

Source: Cambridge-Isanti Schools

Legal References: Minn. Stat. § 120A.21 (Enrollment of a Student in Foster Care)

Minn. Stat. § 120A.22 (Compulsory Instruction)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.24 (Reporting)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.03 (Enrollment Options Act)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.08 (School Board’s Approval to Enroll in Nonresident
District; Exceptions)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.094 (Online Instruction Act)
Minn. Stat. Ch. 124E (Charter Schools)
Minn. Rules Ch. 8710 (Teacher and Other School Professional Licensing)

Cross References: Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)
Policy 620 (Credit for Learning)

Reviewed: 04-20-06, 03-22-07, 06-19-08, 12-03-15, 07-21-22
Approved: 05-18-06, 04-19-07, 07-24-08, 01-21-16, 08-18-22, 08-24-23