Bill Text: MN HF883 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Commissioner of education's role in approving, certifying, and recertifying online learning providers clarified.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-14 - Author added Tillberry [HF883 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-HF883-Introduced.html
1.2relating to education; clarifying role of commissioner of education in approving,
1.3certifying, and recertifying online learning providers;amending Minnesota
1.4Statutes 2010, section 124D.095, subdivision 7.
1.5BE 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
1.7read:
1.8 Subd. 7. Department of Education. (a) Thedepartment commissioner must review
1.9and either approve and certify or disapprove online learning providers. The on a cyclical
1.10basis to determine whether online learning students are being provided online learning
1.11courses and programsmust be that are rigorous, aligned with state academic standards,
1.12and contribute to the students' grade progression in a single subject sufficient to satisfy
1.13state high school graduation requirements. The online provider mustgive demonstrate
1.14to the commissionerwritten assurance, in the form and manner the commissioner
1.15determines, that: (1) all courses meet state academic standards; and (2) the online
1.16learning curriculum, instruction, andassessment, expectations assessments; provisions
1.17for actual teacher-contact timeor, and other student-to-teacher communication, that
1.18involves or is supervised by highly qualified teachers licensed by the Board of Teaching;
1.19and academic support, as described by the provider in its online course syllabus, meet
1.20nationally recognized professional standardsand are described as such in an online course
1.21syllabus that meets the commissioner's requirements. Once An online learning provider is
1.22approved under this paragraph, all of its online learning course offerings are approved and
1.23certified by the commissioner remains eligible for payment under this section unless the
1.24provider changes the content or substance of its online course syllabus as indicated by the
2.1provider or determined by the commissioner as part of the cyclical review or at another
2.2time, the commissioner determines as part of the cyclical review or at another time that
2.3students are not receiving instruction sufficient to meet state academic standards or high
2.4school graduation requirements, or an enrolling district or the department successfully
2.5challenges a courseis successfully challenged by an enrolling district or the department
2.6under paragraph (b). The commissioner must establish and electronically publish a
2.7process for both withdrawing a provider's certification and recertifying that provider,
2.8consistent with this subdivision.
2.9 (b) An enrolling district may challenge the validity of a course offered by an online
2.10learning provider. The department must review such challenges based on the certification
2.11procedures under paragraph (a). The department may initiate its own review of the validity
2.12of 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
2.14learning providers or $50 per course for reviewing a challenge by an enrolling district. An
2.15online provider that contracts with multiple school districts or charter schools under this
2.16section needs initial approval and certification from the department only once to provide
2.17the same online learning course or program to multiple school districts or charter schools
2.18even if that course or program is provided at different times.
2.19 (d) The department must develop, publish, and maintain a list ofapproved online
2.20learning providers and online learning courses and programs thatit the commissioner
2.21has reviewed and certified.
2.22EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
1.3certifying, and recertifying online learning providers;amending Minnesota
1.4Statutes 2010, section 124D.095, subdivision 7.
1.5BE 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
1.7read:
1.8 Subd. 7. Department of Education. (a) The
1.9and either approve and certify or disapprove online learning providers
1.10basis to determine whether online learning students are being provided online learning
1.11courses and programs
1.12and contribute to the students' grade progression in a single subject sufficient to satisfy
1.13state high school graduation requirements. The online provider must
1.14to the commissioner
1.15determines, that: (1) all courses meet state academic standards; and (2) the online
1.16learning curriculum, instruction, and
1.17for actual teacher-contact time
1.18involves or is supervised by highly qualified teachers licensed by the Board of Teaching;
1.19and academic support, as described by the provider in its online course syllabus, meet
1.20nationally recognized professional standards
1.21
1.22
1.23certified by the commissioner remains eligible for payment under this section unless the
1.24provider changes the content or substance of its online course syllabus as indicated by the
2.1provider or determined by the commissioner as part of the cyclical review or at another
2.2time, the commissioner determines as part of the cyclical review or at another time that
2.3students are not receiving instruction sufficient to meet state academic standards or high
2.4school graduation requirements, or an enrolling district or the department successfully
2.5challenges a course
2.6under paragraph (b). The commissioner must establish and electronically publish a
2.7process for both withdrawing a provider's certification and recertifying that provider,
2.8consistent with this subdivision.
2.9 (b) An enrolling district may challenge the validity of a course offered by an online
2.10learning provider. The department must review such challenges based on the certification
2.11procedures under paragraph (a). The department may initiate its own review of the validity
2.12of 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
2.14learning providers or $50 per course for reviewing a challenge by an enrolling district. An
2.15online provider that contracts with multiple school districts or charter schools under this
2.16section needs initial approval and certification from the department only once to provide
2.17the same online learning course or program to multiple school districts or charter schools
2.18even if that course or program is provided at different times.
2.19 (d) The department must develop, publish, and maintain a list of
2.20learning providers and online learning courses and programs that
2.21has reviewed and certified.
2.22EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
