SF4694

Purpose

This bill aims to allow certain students who participate in online learning and temporarily live outside their home school district to stay enrolled in their home public school without paying tuition. It also includes an appropriation to support this continued enrollment.

Main Provisions

• Public schools remain free for students who live in the district or meet eligibility, with changes focused on online learners who become nonresidents.
• For students who turn 21 after starting in a public school, they can continue to be enrolled at no cost until one of these events occurs: (a) the first September 1 after turning 21, (b) they complete graduation requirements, (c) they withdraw and do not enroll again within 21 calendar days, (d) the end of the school year, or (e) for students with certain disabilities, their 22nd birthday.
• To qualify for continued free enrollment while nonresident, the student must:
  • Have been continuously enrolled in the district or a charter school for at least one year.
  • Have at least one parent who remains a Minnesota resident.
  • Be enrolled in online learning under section 124D.094.
  • Have the home public school and the student mutually agree on a course of study while the student is nonresident.
  • Be physically absent from the district for no more than 60 consecutive school days.
  • Intend to return to the student’s home district after the absence ends.

Significant Changes / What It Seeks to Accomplish

• Clarifies that online learners who temporarily reside outside their district can still keep their enrollment in their home district without losing status or funding, under specific conditions.
• Adds a formal mechanism (mutual agreement on courses) for how the home district and the student manage studies while the student is nonresident.
• Introduces a time limit (60 days) on the period of temporary absence while preserving eligibility.
• Ties eligibility to online learning participation (online courses) and to residency-linked conditions.
• Includes a funding provision to support these continued enrollments.

Practical Effects (Who Is Affected)

• Students in public schools who are enrolled in online courses and temporarily live outside their district can remain enrolled in their home district without paying tuition, provided they meet the outlined conditions.
• School districts must coordinate with families to set up a course plan if the student is nonresident.
• Parents must maintain Minnesota residency for eligibility.

Background / Context

• The changes revolve around online learning programs (specifically referenced as online learning under section 124D.094) and residency rules for continued enrollment in public schools.
• The bill operates within the framework of Minnesota public school funding and statutes (references to Minnesota Statutes 2024 sections 120A.20 and 124D.094).

Relevant Terms - continued enrollment - online learning - temporary break in residency - public school - admission free / free public school enrollment - nonresident student - age 21 / 21st birthday (and continued enrollment up to thresholds) - mutual agreement on course of study - 124D.094 (online learning) - 60 consecutive school days - intend to return - school district or charter school - Minnesota resident parent - funding / appropriation for continued enrollment