www'mncola'org

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• www.mncola.org
• susan.williams_at_mncola.org
• 218-894-5469

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Not the world I grew up in

• Shift Happens
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vpMcfrLYDm2U

• Nearly every aspect of a students life is/can be
  found online
• Social
• Economic
• Entertainment
• For many students, the web is their preferred
  environment
• What about Education?

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MN Online Learning

• MN Statute 124D.095, Online Learning Options Act
  (2003), allows school districts to offer K-12
  curriculum online to any student.
• No school district or charter school may
  prohibit a student from applying to enroll in
  online learning.
• School districts and charter schools must make
  available information about online learning to
  all interested people.

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If we dont change our direction were likely to
end up where were headed.

• Chinese Proverb

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Who We Are

• Current Members
• Aitkin
• Brainerd
• Crosby-Ironton
• Isle
• Little Falls
• Onamia
• Pequot Lakes
• Pillager
• Pine River-Backus
• Charter Members

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Who Were Becoming

• Aitkin
• Braham
• Brainerd
• Cambridge Isanti
• Crosby-Ironton
• Deer River
• East Central
• Floodwood
• Grand Rapids
• Greenway
• Hill City
• Hinkley Finlayson
• Isle

• Little Falls
• Milaca
• Mora
• Northland Community
• Ogilvie
• Onamia
• Pequot Lakes
• Pillager
• Pine City
• Pine River-Backus
• Princeton
• Rush City
• South Koochiching

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Why We Do It

• Provide Opportunity for ALL Kids
• True Collaboration
• No Cannibalism
• Transform Education
• Help to guide the changes around us
• If online learning is a train, we want to be
  driving it, not simply on a white-knuckle ride,
  and certainly not run over by it.

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What We Do

• Opportunities for Kids
• 21st Century Environment
• Elective courses not available in local district
• Schedule flexibility (Band/Choir)
• Credit Recovery
• Opportunities for Teachers
• 21st Century Environment
• Professional Development
• E2T2 Grant
• Training prior to Teaching
• On-the-job training

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Where Were Going

• Increase in Student Opportunity (Course
  Offerings)
• Increase in Teacher Opportunity
• Increase in Member Districts
• Increased cultural buy-in of online learning
• Increased success of students, schools, and
  communities.

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HOW?
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How Are We Different?

• Member districts work together
• Benefit for everyones kids
• Provide solutions to local issues
• Dont collect foundation aid
• Tuition per semester course
• Membership fee

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How Are We Governed?
Governing Board
Board member from representative districts
Executive Council
Superintendents of representative Schools
Program Administration
Teacher, principal, counselor, and superintendent
reps from member schools
COLA Committee
Teachers
Subcommittees
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How Do We Operate?

• Program
• Teachers are hired from within member districts
  if possible
• Courses are determined via Needs Assessment
  surveys with the counselors
• Courses are both purchased and created (some of
  each)
• Courses are aligned to standards

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How Do We Operate?

• Fiscal
• GOAL 0 Membership Fee/250 Tuition
• CURRENT Membership Fee based on
  district size/400 Tuition
• (We dont collect Foundation Aid dollars, so
  local districts retain full student ADMs)
• Contractual
• 3rd Party teaching assignments are unrelated to
  a local contract

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Benefits of Membership

• Increased opportunities for students.
• Increased opportunities for teachers
• If a student chooses OLL, provide a known
  commodity
• Help set the course
• drive the trainthe engine has room for all of us
• Be part of something bigger than yourself
• Potential cost savings

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Questions?
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• www.mncola.org
• susan.williams_at_mncola.org
• 218-894-5469