Purpose

• The bill aims to modify how average daily membership (ADM) and pupil units are calculated for non-resident students who enroll in online instruction in Minnesota schools. It also adds a set of definitions to clarify what constitutes online, blended, and digital instruction and who can provide these online offerings.

Main Provisions

• Modifies the statutes related to ADM/pupil units for non-resident students in online instruction, guiding how these students are counted for funding purposes.
• Adds a definitions section to Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 124D.094 subdivision 1, including:
  • Blended instruction: a form of digital instruction where a student learns part time in a supervised physical setting and part time online.
  • Digital instruction: instruction delivered with technology that gives the student control over time, place, and pace, and includes blended and online instruction.
  • Enrolling district: the school district or charter school where the student is enrolled.
  • Online course syllabus: a written document listing the state standards taught and assessed in a supplemental online course, plus the course content outline, assessments, instructional methods, communication with guardians and the enrolling district, and available supports.
  • Online instruction: instruction delivered primarily through digital technology away from a supervised physical setting.
  • Online instructional site: a site that offers courses using online instruction and may enroll students receiving online instruction.
  • Online teacher: an employee of the enrolling district or a supplemental online course provider who holds the appropriate licensure and is trained to provide online instruction.
  • Student: a Minnesota resident enrolled in K-12 or a nonresident student who meets the criteria described in the subdivision.
  • Supplemental online course: an online course taken in place of a course offered by the student’s enrolling district.
  • Supplemental online course provider: a Minnesota-authorized provider (district, intermediate district, state-operated school, joint powers organization, or charter school) that can deliver supplemental online courses.
• Establishes who may provide online courses to support these definitions (districts, intermediate districts, state-operated schools, joint powers organizations, and charter schools in Minnesota).
• Requires a formal online course syllabus to identify state standards, outline course content, specify assessments, describe instructional methods, outline communications with students and guardians, and spell out supports available to the student.
• Sets licensure and training requirements for online teachers (to be held under Minnesota Rules chapter 8710).
• Applies to online instruction that is delivered away from a supervised, physical setting and uses digital tools.

Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new subdivision to 124D.094 and updates the subdivision 1 definitions to expressly cover blended/digital/online instruction, the roles of enrolling districts and providers, and the criteria for students and courses in the context of online learning.

Practical Impact

• Provides a clearer framework for entities offering online education to nonresident students in Minnesota.
• Establishes standardized terminology and requirements (course syllabi, teacher licensure, and supports) to ensure consistency and accountability in online offerings.
• Affects how nonresident online learners are counted for funding through ADM and pupil units in Minnesota.

Relevant terms section follows.

Relevant Terms - average daily membership (ADM) - pupil units - non-resident students - resident students - online instruction - blended instruction - digital instruction - online course syllabus - course content outline - instructional methods - assessments - online instructional site - online teacher - enrolling district - supplemental online course - supplemental online course provider - Minnesota Rules chapter 8710 - Minnesota Statutes 124D.094 - Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement - holding licensure - joint powers agreement - charter school - state-operated school - district (as enrolling district)