1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; clarifying role of commissioner of education in approving, 
1.3 	certifying, and recertifying online learning providers;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2010, section 124D.095, subdivision 7.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 124D.095, subdivision 7, is amended to 
1.7 	read:
1.8 		Subd. 7.Department of Education. (a) The department commissioner  must review 
1.9 	and either approve and certify or disapprove online learning providers. The on a cyclical 
1.10 	basis to determine whether online learning students are being provided online learning 
1.11 	courses and programs must be that are rigorous, aligned with state academic standards, 
1.12 	and contribute to the students' grade progression in a single subject sufficient to satisfy 
1.13 	state high school graduation requirements. The online provider must give demonstrate 
1.14 	to the commissioner written assurance, in the form and manner the commissioner 
1.15 	determines, that: (1) all courses meet state academic standards; and (2) the online 
1.16 	learning curriculum, instruction, and assessment, expectations assessments; provisions
1.17 	for actual teacher-contact time or, and other student-to-teacher communication, that 
1.18 	involves or is supervised by highly qualified teachers licensed by the Board of Teaching;
1.19 	and academic support, as described by the provider in its online course syllabus, meet 
1.20 	nationally recognized professional standards and are described as such in an online course 
1.21 	syllabus that meets the commissioner's requirements. Once An online learning provider is 
1.22 	approved under this paragraph, all of its online learning course offerings are approved and 
1.23 	certified by the commissioner remains eligible for payment under this section unless the 
1.24 	provider changes the content or substance of its online course syllabus as indicated by the 
2.1 	provider or determined by the commissioner as part of the cyclical review or at another 
2.2 	time, the commissioner determines as part of the cyclical review or at another time that 
2.3 	students are not receiving instruction sufficient to meet state academic standards or high 
2.4 	school graduation requirements, or an enrolling district or the department successfully 
2.5 	challenges a course is successfully challenged by an enrolling district or the department
2.6 	under paragraph (b). The commissioner must establish and electronically publish a 
2.7 	process for both withdrawing a provider's certification and recertifying that provider, 
2.8 	consistent with this subdivision.
2.9 	(b) An enrolling district may challenge the validity of a course offered by an online 
2.10 	learning provider. The department must review such challenges based on the certification 
2.11 	procedures under paragraph (a). The department may initiate its own review of the validity 
2.12 	of an online learning course offered by an online learning provider.
2.13 	(c) The department may collect a fee not to exceed $250 for certifying online 
2.14 	learning providers or $50 per course for reviewing a challenge by an enrolling district. An 
2.15 	online provider that contracts with multiple school districts or charter schools under this 
2.16 	section needs initial approval and certification from the department only once to provide 
2.17 	the same online learning course or program to multiple school districts or charter schools 
2.18 	even if that course or program is provided at different times.
2.19 	(d) The department must develop, publish, and maintain a list of approved online 
2.20 	learning providers and online learning courses and programs that it the commissioner
2.21 	has reviewed and certified.

2.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.