624      ONLINE LEARNING OPTIONS

I.          PURPOSE

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

II.        GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

            TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter #4095 is a tuition free online charter school serving students in grades 9-12.  It is web-based learning designed to meet the educational needs of TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning students and other Minnesota students.

            A Minnesota licensed teacher works in partnership with students and their families to develop and individualize graduation plans and calendars.  Learning goals are aligned with state and district requirements, as well as, curriculum outcomes.  Online courses offer the same rigorous academic standards that a student would receive at an on campus high school.

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

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

C.        The charter school shall allow an online learning student to have the same access to the computer hardware and education software available in the school district as all other students in the school district.

D.        The charter school shall continue to provide non-academic services to online learning students when needed.

E.         Online learning students may participate in the extracurricular activities of the charter school if applicable.

III.       DEFINITIONS

A.        "Online learning" is an interactive course or program that delivers instruction from
a teacher to a student by computer; is combined with other traditional delivery methods that include frequent student assessment and may include actual teacher contact time; and meets or exceeds state academic standards.

B.        "Online learning provider" is 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 provides online learning to students.

C.        "Student" is a Minnesota resident enrolled in a school under section 120A.22, subdivision 4 , in kindergarten through grade 12.

D.        "Online learning student" is a student enrolled in an online learning course or program delivered by an online provider under paragraph (b).

E.         "Enrolling district" means the school district or charter school in which a student is enrolled under section 120A.22, subdivision 4, for purposes of compulsory attendance.

F.         "Supplemental online learning" means an online course taken in place of a course period during the regular school day at a local district school.

G.        "Full-time online provider" means an enrolling school authorized by the department to deliver comprehensive public education at any or all of the elementary, middle, or high school levels.

H.        “Online course syllabus” is a written document that an online learning provider transmits to the enrolling district using a format prescribed by the commissioner to identify the state academic standards embedded in an online course, the course content outline, required course assessments, expectations for actual teacher contact time and other student-to-teacher communications, and the academic support available to the online learning student.

NOTE:  A school district may offer online learning without the reporting and review requirements of subdivision 7 for enrolled students on a supplemental basis. Such enrollment does not generate online learning funds.

As of 2009, both full-time and supplemental online learning providers are subject to the reporting requirements and review criteria under subdivision 7.

IV.       PROCEDURES

A.        Dissemination and Receipt of Information

1.         The school district shall make available information about online learning to all interested people.  The school district may utilize the list of approved online learning providers and online learning courses and programs developed, published, and maintained by the Minnesota Department of Education.

2.         The school district will receive and maintain information provided to it by other online learning providers.
 

               3.          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.

              4.       The enrolling district must designate a contact person to help facilitate and monitor the student's academic progress and accumulated credits towards graduation.

            B.           Students and Enrollment

1.            A student may apply for full-time enrollment in an approved online learning program or for supplemental online learning.  The student must have the written consent of a parent or guardian to do so if the student is under eighteen (18) years of age.

2.                  The student and the student’s parents must submit an application to the online learning provider and identify the student’s reason for enrolling in online learning.  The online learning provider that accepts a student under this section must within ten days notify the student and the school district in writing if the school district is not the online learning provider.  The student and family must notify the online learning provider of their intent to enroll in online learning within ten days of acceptance, at which time the student and parent must sign a statement of assurance that they have reviewed the online course or program and understand the expectations of online learning enrollment.  The online learning provider must notify the school district of the student’s enrollment in online learning in writing on a form provided by MDE.

3.                  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.

            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.

4.         Supplemental online learning notification to the school district upon student enrollment in the online learning program will include the courses or program, credits to be awarded, the start date of online enrollment, and confirmation that the courses will meet the student’s graduation plan.  A student may enroll in supplemental online learning courses up to the midpoint of the school district’s term.  The school district may waive this requirement for special circumstances and upon acceptance by the online learning provider.

5.         An online learning student may enroll in supplemental online learning courses during a single school year to a maximum of 50 percent of the student’s full schedule of courses per term.  A student may exceed the supplemental online learning registration limit if the school district grants permission for supplemental online learning enrollment above the limit, or if an agreement is made between the school district and the online learning provider for instructional services.  To enroll in more than 50 percent of the student’s full schedule or courses per term in online learning, the student must qualify to exceed the supplemental online learning registration limit or apply for enrollment to an approved full-time online learning program following appropriate procedures in Paragraph IV.B.2. above. 

6.         Full-time online learning students may enroll in classes at a local school per contract for instructional services between the online learning provider and the school district.

7.         An online learning student may complete course work at a grade level that is different from the student’s current grade level.

8.         An online learning student may enroll in additional courses with the online learning provider under a separate agreement that includes terms for payment of any tuition or course fees.

C.        Classroom Membership and Teacher Contact Time

1.            The school district may reduce an online learning student’s regular classroom instructional membership in proportion to the student’s membership in online learning courses.

2.         The school district may reduce the course schedule of an online learning student in proportion to the number of online learning courses the student takes from an online learning provider other than the school district.

3.         A teacher with a Minnesota license must assemble and deliver instruction to enrolled students receiving online learning from an enrolling district.  The delivery of instruction occurs when the student interacts with the computer or the teacher and receives ongoing assistance and assessment of learning.  The instruction may include curriculum developed by persons other than a teacher with a Minnesota license.

4.         The online provider must give the commissioner written assurance that: (1) all courses meet state academic standards; and (2) the online learning curriculum, instruction, and assessment, expectations for actual teacher-contact time or other student-to-teacher communication, and academic support meet nationally recognized professional standards and are described as such in an online course syllabus that meets the commissioner's requirements.

D.        Academic Credit; Graduation Standards or Requirements

1.         The charter school shall apply the same graduation requirements to all students whether they enroll in fully online courses or use supplementary services.

2.         The charter school shall use the same criteria for accepting online learning credits or courses as it does for accepting credits or courses for nonresident transfer students under Minnesota law.

3.         Any school district may challenge the validity of a course offered by an online learning provider.  Such a challenge will be filed with the Minnesota Department of Education.

4.      An online learning provider must make available to the school district the course syllabus, standard alignment, content outline, assessment requirements, and contact information for supplemental online courses taken by school district students.  The syllabus will be in the form prescribed by the commissioner and described in 124D.095 Subd 2h and subd 7.

5.        The school district shall count secondary credits granted to an online learning student toward its graduation and credit requirements.

6.      If a student completes an online learning course or program that meets or exceeds a graduation standard or grade progression requirement at the school district, that standard or requirement will be met.

E.                 Enrollment

1.      As a charter school entity TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School will accept enrollment based on 85% comprehensive students and 15% supplemental students (Supplemental services).  As a charter school, TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School may close for enrollment when the student numbers warrant closure.  A lottery will be held each spring if necessary for enrollment purposes.  Priority enrollment will be given to students enrolled the previous year at the charter school and siblings of students enrolled the previous year at the charter school.  After that lottery or enrollment period students will be accepted on a first come-first serve basis.  When necessary a waiting list will be created based on these same principals.  The TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School will accept enrollment until we are full based on predetermined student numbers and staffing capacities.

2.      Learning Managers will not instruct more than 40 students in any one online learning course or program.

3.      All procedures for closing will be reviewed with the Charter School specialist and Online Learning Specialist at MDE as needed.

4.      Once enrollment is closed students will be accepted on the following basis; 85% comprehensive students and 15% supplemental students, unless otherwise noted in the board minutes for a specific amount of time.  In addition specific grade levels from 9-12 may be closed due to over population throughout the school year based on enrollment numbers and staff advising specific grade areas.  When a grade is closed for enrollment students will be issued provisional acceptance status until such time as grade level information is obtained based on a credit check and academic credits achieved using Wolf Creek procedures.

5.      A student enrolled using the supplemental services option must continue their enrollment for one full quarter prior to being eligible for a change to fulltime comprehensive student status the following quarter, if a waiting list is in effect.  If a student requests such a change in writing after one full quarter they will be placed at the top position available on the waiting list and will only be accepted for full time status if a place for that full time status is available.

Legal References:       Minn. Stat. § 124D.03 (Enrollment Options Program)

Minn. Stat. § 124D.09 (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act)

Minn. Stat. § 124D.095 (On-Line Learning Option Act)

Cross References:       MSBA/MASA Model Policy 509 (Enrollment of Nonresident Students)

MSBA/MASA Model Policy 605 (Alternative Programs)

MSBA/MASA Model Policy 608 (Instructional Services – Special Education)

MSBA/MASA Model Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)

MSBA/MASA Model Policy 620 (Credit for Learning)