HF 3008

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/12/2014 11:35am

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring notice to be given to enroll in online learning;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.095, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 124D.095, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:

Subd. 3.

Authorization; notice; limitations on enrollment.

(a) A student may
apply for full-time enrollment in an approved online learning program under section
124D.03, 124D.08, or 124D.10. Notwithstanding sections 124D.03, 124D.08, and
124D.10, procedures for enrolling in supplemental online learning are as provided in
this subdivision. A student age 17 or younger must have the written consent of a parent
or guardian to apply. No school district or charter school may prohibit a student from
applying to enroll in online learning. In order to enroll in online learning, the student
and the student's parents must submit an application to the online learning provider and
identify the student's reason for enrolling. An online learning provider that accepts a
student under this section must notify the student and the enrolling district in writing
within ten days if the enrolling district is not the online learning provider. The student and
the student's parent must notify the online learning provider of the student's intent to enroll
in online learning within ten days of being accepted, at which time the student and the
student's parent must sign a statement indicating that they have reviewed the online course
or program and understand the expectations of enrolling in online learning. The online
learning provider must use a form provided by the department to notify the enrolling
district new text begin by May 31 of each year new text end of the student's application to enroll in online learning new text begin the
following school year. A student is bound by the notice or lack of notice given by May 31 new text end .

(b) The supplemental online learning notice to the enrolling district when a student
applies to the online learning provider new text begin must be submitted by May 31 of each year and new text end will
include the courses or program, credits to be awarded, and the start date of the online
course or program new text begin the following school year new text end . An online learning provider must make
available the supplemental online course syllabus to the enrolling district. Within 15 days
after the online learning provider makes information in this paragraph available to the
enrolling district, the enrolling district must notify the online provider whether the student,
the student's parent, and the enrolling district agree or disagree that the course meets the
enrolling district's graduation requirements. A student may enroll in a supplemental online
learning course deleted text begin up to the midpoint of the enrolling district's term deleted text end new text begin only if notice was given
to the enrolling district by May 31 of the student's intent to enroll for the following school
year new text end . The enrolling district may waive this requirement for special circumstances and with
the agreement of the online provider. An online learning course or program that meets
or exceeds a graduation standard or the grade progression requirement of the enrolling
district as described in the provider's online course syllabus meets the corresponding
graduation requirements applicable to the student in the enrolling district. If the enrolling
district does not agree that the course or program meets its graduation requirements, then:

(1) the enrolling district must make available an explanation of its decision to the
student, the student's parent, and the online provider; and

(2) the online provider may make available a response to the enrolling district,
showing how the course or program meets the graduation requirements of the enrolling
district.

(c) An online learning provider must notify the commissioner that it is delivering
online learning and report the number of online learning students it accepts and the online
learning courses and programs it delivers.

(d) An online learning 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.

(e) An enrolling district may reduce an online learning student's regular classroom
instructional membership in proportion to the student's membership in online learning
courses.

(f) The online provider must report or make available information on an individual
student's progress and accumulated credit to the student, the student's parent, and the
enrolling district in a manner specified by the commissioner unless the enrolling district
and the online provider agree to a different form of notice and notify the commissioner.
The enrolling district must designate a contact person to help facilitate and monitor the
student's academic progress and accumulated credits towards graduation.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end