Enrollment

K-12 Online Learning

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How do I enroll in online learning?

As a public school student you may enroll in online learning courses through certified public online learning programs. This enrollment can involve participation in a combination of classes at the local school (enrolling district) and online classes (up to 50% of your classes) or transferring to an online learning school.

It is advisable for you to discuss any changes to your academic plan with your school counselor. Additionally it is important that your family is supportive of your enrollment in an online class(es) to ensure academic success. The law requires parental permission for students age 17 and younger to apply for online learning.

Supplemental (part-time) enrollment in online learning

In order to enroll in online learning in addition to your local school classes, you would first find a certified course that best suits your needs and contact the school, charter school, consortium or intermediate district to see if they are accepting applications for new students and have seats available in the classes you are interested in.

Next steps might be to:

Meet with your current school counselor to make sure you are meeting all local academic requirements. Request that your current school sends your records to the OLL program.
You and your parents must submit an application to the online learning provider and identify the reason for enrolling in online learning.
Complete an Online Learning Supplemental Notice of Student Registration form in conjunction with the online learning program and submit this to your enrolling to confirm the course will be credited toward your high school graduation at your enrolling district before taking an online course(s).
You may enroll in supplemental online learning courses during a single school year up to a maximum of 50 percent of your full schedule of courses per term. These schedule changes must be made prior to the mid-point of your enrolling district’s term. The 50% enrollment cap of online courses for students remaining enrolled locally and the mid-term enrollment deadline may be waived by the local school.

Comprehensive (full-time) enrollment in an OLL Program (Nonresident District)

Enrolling in a comprehensive online learning program requires a change of school district or enrollment in a charter school. Changing schools districts involves open enrollment application following the appropriate deadlines (unless waived by the two school districts).

To open enroll in a nonresident district online learning program, a student would complete an application form and submit it to the nonresident district or program.

More information about open enrollment is available at the Minnesota Department of Education website.

Upon graduation you will receive a diploma from the nonresident district offering the online learning program.

Comprehensive (full time) enrollment in an online charter school

For enrollment in a comprehensive online learning charter school, you should contact the particular charter school and complete the enrollment procedures and forms. The charter school will assist you in transition from your current school to the online charter school.

Upon graduation you will receive a diploma from the online charter school.

Enrollment guidelines based on the Online Learning Option Act

Minnesota Statute 124D.095, the Online Learning Option Act, establishes the following guidelines to enrollment (enrolling district means the school district or charter school in which a student is enrolled for purposes of compulsory education):

No school district or charter school may prohibit a student from applying to enroll in online learning.
An enrolling district (student’s current local school) may reduce an online learning student’s regular classroom instructional time in proportion to the student’s membership in online learning classes.
An online learning student may complete course work at a grade level that is different from the student’s current grade level.
A 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.
A student must be a full time public school student to qualify for public education funding.
An online learning provider that accepts a student must, within 10 days, notify the student and the enrolling district if the enrolling district is not the online learning provider. The notice must report the student’s course or program and hours of instruction.
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 enrolling district of the student's enrollment in online learning in writing on a form provided by the department.
An online learning student must receive academic credit for completing the requirements of an online learning course or program.
Secondary credit granted to an online learning student must be counted toward the graduation and credit requirements of the enrolling district.
If a student completes an online learning course or program that meets or exceeds a graduation standard or grade progression requirement at the enrolling district, that standard or requirement is met.
The enrolling district must continue to provide nonacademic services to online learning students.

Contact the School Choice Programs and Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Education if you have further questions about K-12 student enrollment in public online learning programs at 651.582.8733 or mde.school-choice@state.mn.us

Source: Minnesota Department of Education

Page last updated in April 2008.