Legislative Platform

MNOLA Mission

MNOLA is an organization of Minnesota K-12 online learning providers who collaborate to provide the best online learning opportunities possible for their students. To meet this goal, MNOLA provides professional development opportunities and advocacy resources to its members, as well as conversations to promote highest quality digital instruction.

3. MNOLA urges MDE to continue to require some form of oversight for use of virtual or distance learning by public schools in Minnesota now and in the future.  From the use of e-learning days to replace weather days in the state this winter to the number of new programs opening, there is a continuing need for oversight. We do not want our state to fall into the false assumption that since all educators in Minnesota experienced crisis distance learning during COVID -19 that all are aware of the best practices around virtual learning. We believe that any oversight measures should be reasonable in nature and further the MNOLA mission. We want to stress continued professional development opportunities and suggest requirements for new teachers around online learning practices now and in the future.

2. MNOLA supports  policies and legislation that sees the value in both synchronous and asynchronous modalities of virtual learning. We believe that student contact hours that are required for independent study models should allow for asynchronous means of teacher-student  contact, including direct instruction and feedback on student work. We oppose any policies or legislation that value one model over the other.

3. MNOLA believes that supplemental online learning students in MN should be entitled to the same rights in their enrolling districts as PSEO students. We believe that this should be changed in legislation immediately.

4. MNOLA believes that each virtual learning program is unique in its own right and values the ability of families to choose the model that works best for them and their needs. We oppose any legislation that does not embrace this belief.

5. MNOLA believes state approved online learning providers should be allowed to service students under shared time aid in a virtual capacity and receive funding. (MN State Statute 126C.19 Location of Services: Public school programs that provide instruction in core curriculum may be provided to shared time pupils only at a public school building.) State Approved Online Learning Providers adhere to state education guidelines and provide rigorous standards aligned instruction. The "Location of Services" under Shared Time Aid is unjustly exclusive. Our suggestion is to revise Statute 126C.19 "Location of Services" to "Public school programs that provide instruction in core curriculum may be provided to shared time pupils only at a public school building and/or online via a Minnesota State Approved Online Provider." 

More information on our legislative platform and values as an organization can be found at our website: https://sites.google.com/site/mnolapage/

For further information please contact the MNOLA Legislative Chair -David VanDenBoom djvandenboom@district287.org - 763-550-7179