Section 3. Online Learning Course.  Strongly encourages Minnesota students to take at least one online course before graduating from high school.

HF requires students to complete one course credit that includes digital learning. 

SF strongly encourages a student to take one online learning course before graduation.

HF allows a school district to comply with course credit requirement by creating a comparable locally-established alternative plan to accommodate eligible students with disabilities or an English language learner.

Section 1. Graduation Requirements; Course Credits.  (b) Requires high school students to successfully complete at least one course credit that includes digital learning to graduate.  Allows school districts to comply with this requirement by adopting a comparable locally-established alternative plan to accommodate eligible students with disabilities or an English language learner enrolled in school for three school years or less.

Makes this section effective for students entering 9th grade in the 2012-2013 school year and later.

No comparable provision in SF

Section 2. Technology Strategies. Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.18, subd. 3a. Directs all postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching to include in their preparation programs the knowledge and skills teacher candidates need to deliver digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage students with technology.

Makes this section effective for candidates entering a teacher preparation program after June 30, 2014.

No comparable provision in SF

Section 3. Effective Staff Development Activities.  Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.60, subd. 1a. Requires staff development activities related to enhancing teacher content knowledge and instructional skills to accommodate the delivery of digital and blended learning and curriculum and engage students with technology.

Makes this section immediately effective.

No comparable provision in SF

 Section 4. Staff Development Outcomes.  Minnesota Statutes, section 122A.60, subd. 3. Includes effective delivery of digital and blended learning and curriculum and engaging students with technology among specified staff development goals.

Makes this section immediately effective.

No comparable provision in SF

Section 5. Definitions.  Minnesota Statutes, section124D.095, subd. 2. Defines “digital learning” as learning facilitated by technology that offers students an element of control over the time, place, path, or pace of their learning.  Defines “blended learning” as a form of digital learning that occurs when: a student learns part-time in a supervised physical setting and part-time through digital delivery of instruction; or a student learns in a supervised physical setting where technology is used as a primary method to deliver instruction.  Amends the definition of “online learning provider” to indicate that the provider must be approved by the Department of Education to provide online learning courses.  Makes technical changes.

Makes this section immediately effective.

No comparable provision in SF

Section 6. Online Learning Parameters. Makes technical changes.

Makes this section immediately effective.

No comparable provision in HF

Section 7. Department of Education. Minnesota Statutes, section 1124D.095, subd. 7. (a) Requires the education department to review and approve or disapprove digital learning providers within 90 calendar days after receiving a provider’s application.  Clarifies a process for approving or disapproving and reviewing online learning providers.

(b)  Requires providers other than an enrolling school district offering digital learning to its students to give the commissioner written assurances about course offerings.

(f)  Allows the department to review complaints about a provider and to withhold funds or require compliance plan if the department determines that a provider violated a law or rule.

Makes this section effective immediately.

Section 1. Online Learning Advisory Council.  Directs the Online Learning Advisory Council, by June 30, 2013, to develop and maintain a catalog of publicly available digital learning content currently aligned to Minnesota academic standards.  The catalog shall include:

• an index of Minnesota academic standards with which curriculum is aligned;  
• a method for students and teachers to provide evaluative feedback; and
• a plan for ongoing maintenance.

Directs the Online Learning Advisory Council to conduct a study examining methods for including student performance data on the digital resources within the catalog.  The council will report to the legislature within three months of enactment to recommend a student performance data collection process to be implemented.

No comparable provision in HF

Section 2. Use of Revenue.  Allows basic skills revenue to be used to meet students’ needs related to digital learning.

Same in HF and SF

Section 8. Use of Revenue. Minnesota Statutes, section 126C.15, subd. 1. Allows basic skills revenue to be used to meet students’ needs related to digital learning.

Section 4. Online Learning Advisory Council Report.  (a) Directs the Online Learning Advisory Council to review Minnesota rules and laws to determine which, if any, inhibit online learning.  Requires that the results of this review be included in a report to the legislature.

(b) Directs the council to review the effect of student-teacher ratios and teacher licensure requirements on digital learning and include the review in its report.

(c) Directs the Department of Education to provide assistance for the review and report to the council upon request. 

(d) Requires the council to report to the legislature by June 30, 2013 any recommendations and any proposed legislation. 

No comparable provision in HF