Frequently Asked Questions

Who is allowed to take online courses?  The Online Learning Options Act gives any Minnesota K-12 student the option to take an online course, for any reason. As long as the student chooses a course from a certified provider, the District cannot deny enrollment.

What are the guidelines? How do I request an online course? The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) provides an enrollment form on its website that all students must use to request online courses. A link to the online learning material on the MDE site is available on our district webpage. Students will need to discuss their request with their parents and with their school counselor.

Can students enroll outside the District for online courses even if they are offered in District? Yes. State law obligates the District to accept credits for students (K-12) from certified online providers whether or not the courses are offered by their home district in a face-to-face or online environment.

Why does Duluth encourage the use of Infinity? Our school district is a member of Infinity and encourages students to use this service if they are taking online courses. By taking courses through Infinity rather than another online provider, the District retains compensatory aid funds and pays a smaller tuition. If a student enrolls with a provider other than Infinity, the District loses the compensatory aid and pays more per enrollment. An enrollment form is available online at the MDE site and through the packet of information provided by Infinity.

What are options for summer school? At this time, the District is not obligated to pay tuition for students who take online courses during the summer.  We would, however, be obligated to accept credits that students earn if they earn the credits from a certified provided.

What is the drop/add policy? Each online provider has a drop/add policy. Infinity's information is available on its website.