SF3708

Purpose

• The bill aims to modify how average daily membership (ADM) and pupil units are calculated for students who are not residents of Minnesota but who are enrolled in online instruction in a Minnesota school. It does this by adding new definitions and rules to Minnesota’s education statutes.

Main Provisions

• Adds a new subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 124D.094 (Definitions) that applies to online and blended learning.
• Key definitions created or clarified:
  • blended instruction: learning part time in a supervised physical setting and part time through online instruction.
  • digital instruction: instruction delivered with technology that gives students some control over time, place, pace, or path of learning; includes blended and online instruction.
  • online instruction: learning primarily through digital technology away from a supervised physical setting.
  • enrolling district: the school district or charter school where the student is officially enrolled.
  • online course syllabus: a written document describing the state standards taught and assessed, course content, assessments, instructional methods, communication with students and guardians, and supports available from the enrolling district.
  • online instructional site: a site that offers courses using online instruction and can enroll students in online learning.
  • online teacher: an educator who works for the enrolling district or a supplemental online course provider, holds the proper license, and is trained to teach online.
  • student: includes Minnesota residents enrolled in a K–12 school, and also nonresident students who meet certain criteria described in the statute.
  • 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-based school district, intermediate district, state-operated school, a joint-powers organization of districts, or a Minnesota charter school authorized to provide supplemental online courses.
• Establishes that these definitions relate to how ADM and pupil units are determined when nonresident students participate in online or blended courses in Minnesota.
• Requires that online teachers be properly licensed under Minnesota Rules chapter 8710 and be trained to provide online instruction.

Significant Changes to Law

• Creates a formal set of terms and criteria specific to online and blended learning for nonresident students.
• Clarifies which district is responsible for the student (the enrolling district) in online and blended settings.
• Introduces licensure requirements for online teachers and a formal structure for online course offerings (including syllabi and oversight).

implications for Students and Schools

• Potentially changes how nonresident students enrolled in Minnesota online courses are counted for funding and reporting (through ADM and pupil units).
• Ensures online teachers have appropriate credentials.
• Establishes expectations for how online courses are designed, documented, and supervised.

Notable Definitions (to help understanding)

• blended instruction
• digital instruction
• online instruction
• enrolling district
• online course syllabus
• online instructional site
• online teacher
• supplemental online course
• supplemental online course provider
• ADM (average daily membership)
• pupil units

Relevant Terms - average daily membership (ADM) - pupil units - nonresident student - online instruction - blended instruction - digital instruction - enrolling district - supplemental online course - supplemental online course provider - online course syllabus - online instructional site - online teacher - licensure - Minnesota Rules chapter 8710 - Minnesota Statutes 124D.094 - Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement