Minnesota Connections Academy Virtual School Enrollment Checklist for the 2018-19 School Year

Do you have everything you need to sign up for online school? Because Connections Academy is a public school, parents must submit state-required information and documentation for each student. You will save time and enrollment will go more smoothly if you are prepared!

Use the Enrollment Checklist below to gather the documents you will need. The checklist lists your state's requirements, plus tips to help you find documents you may not have. Once you have your documents ready, it’s easy to create an account and complete the enrollment forms in Connexus^®, our online system.

Minnesota Online School Eligibility Requirements

You must meet specific state and program requirements to attend Minnesota Connections Academy. Student eligibility requirements in Minnesota are determined by the Minnesota Transition Charter Board, which is the authorizing body for Minnesota Connections Academy. Before enrolling, carefully review the Minnesota online school eligibility requirements to determine whether your student(s) is eligible to participate in grades K–12.

Students who have been or are currently suspended or expelled from their local school or district may not be eligible to enroll.

A copy of one of the following documents must be provided for every student to verify age eligibility.

• Official birth certificate
• Tribal Affiliation card
• U.S. Passport
• Adoption Record
• Baptismal Papers
• Custody Order
• Green Card
• Military ID or Student Driver’s License
• Hospital Certificate
• Government Document with Date of Birth
• Certificate of Live birth

To avoid unnecessary delays, provide a copy of one of these official documents along with your enrollment documents. If you do not have either of these documents, please contact the Enrollment Team at 800-382-6010 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Not Sure Where to Get That?

• If you need a copy of your child's birth certificate, you can order it online through the Minnesota Department of Health. Please visit the Minnesota Department of Health website for more information.
• If your child was born in another state, please visit the CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records webpage for more information. When using this tool, please remember to follow the CDC's Application Guidelines.
• Have questions about your U.S. passport? Visit the U.S. Department of State FAQs page.

As a reminder, the age eligibility is as follows:

• Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which he or she is enrolling.
• First Grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which he or she is enrolling.
• Maximum Age: Any student who turns twenty-one (21) years old on or before September 1 will not be eligible to enroll in Minnesota Connections Academy.

You must reside in the state of Minnesota and provide acceptable proof of residency to be eligible for enrollment in Minnesota Connections Academy. There are many verifiable forms of documentation, which are detailed below.

Not Sure What is Accepted as Proof?

• A residential utility bill (gas, electric, or water) from the last 60 days, in the resident's (parent or guardian) name and service address
• Mortgage statement from the last 60 days or annual lease agreement
• Property tax statement
• Driver's License or state issue ID
• Cable Bill
• Phone and Internet Bill
• Settlement Statement
• Letter from Government Agency
• Notarized letter

• If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the enrollment team at 800-382-6010 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

All Minnesota Connections Academy students must provide evidence of their immunizations on a State of Minnesota official student immunization form.

Not Sure What Immunizations Are Required?

For a complete listing of immunizations required by the Minnesota Department of Health, view the section on Immunizations Required for School Grades K–12 on the Minnesota Department of Health website.

• Proof your child has had chicken pox. See requirements.

Where Can I Get Immunizations for My Student?

Immunizations can be obtained from doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Pediatricians and family doctors or their nurses or medical assistants can give your student the shots he or she needs to meet the requirements for school enrollment. In addition, some large chain pharmacies offer immunizations for older children and adults.

What if I Need Assistance Paying for Vaccines?

If you need assistance paying for shots/vaccinations, you may be able to get free or reduced immunizations through the following program:

• Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. Children who are eligible for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive pediatric vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Immunization Exemptions

Minnesota allows for medical contraindication, laboratory evidence of immunity, and conscientious-objection exemptions; however, medical and laboratory exemptions forms must be signed by a physician. Please use the Minnesota Student Immunization/Exemption form if requesting an exemption.

This form must be signed by you and, if required, by a physician. According to Minnesota Statutes Section 135.14, for conscientious objection, a statement specifying the exempt vaccines must be notarized by a notary public.

• Conscientious Objection: For conscientious objection by the patient/parent/legal guardian to one or more of the vaccines, you must provide a notarized statement specifying the vaccine(s) and submit the signed exemption form.
• Medical Exemption: For a medical contraindication to required vaccine(s), including anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose or to vaccine component(s), the patient or parent/guardian must have a signed statement by a physician specifying the vaccine(s).
• Laboratory Evidence of Immunity Exemption: For laboratory evidence of immunity to a disease covered by the immunization law, the patient/parent/guardian must have a signed statement by a physician specifying the vaccine(s).

All students who have previously attended public school, private school, or homeschool are eligible to enroll in online school and will be requested to submit academic records for placement.

• Report Card
  For students applying for grades K–9: Please submit a copy of the report card from the most recent school year.
  
  The following items should be included on the report card:
  • Student Name
  • Grade Level
  • School Year (example: 2016–17)
  • School Name
  • Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
• Unofficial Transcript
  For students applying for grades 10–12: Submit an unofficial transcript that includes the complete end-of-year grades from the prior school year and any academic documentation (such as a progress report/interim report, class schedule, or marking period/semester report card) issued for the current school year. Additional documentation may be requested for placement.
  
  The following items should be included on the unofficial transcript:
  • Student Name
  • Grade Level
  • School Year (example: 2016–17)
  • School Name
  • Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
  • Credits Earned

Not Sure How to Get Your Child’s Report Card or Transcript?

• Contact your student's previous school and request the document, providing them with the information outlined above, OR contact your school's district office with the request.

If after attempting these steps you still cannot obtain your student's report card or transcript, please contact the academic placement services team at 800-382-6010 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Have Your Child(ren) Been Formerly Homeschooled?

If your children are currently homeschooled, please complete the Prior Academic History Form. This document will be available to you in Connexus.

• Prior Academic History Form
  For homeschooled students in grades K–12: Complete the Prior Academic History Form indicating what courses were completed through a homeschool curriculum.
• High School Homeschool Credit Form
  For homeschooled students in grades 9–12: Complete the High School Homeschool Credit Form indicating any high school level courses completed through a homeschool curriculum.

You may need to provide additional documentation if any of the following circumstances apply:

• Custody order: If your legal guardianship is determined by a court order, please submit a copy of the order.
• Special Education Documentation: If your student has had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) within the past three years, please submit the following documents:
  
  • IEP Documentation: Please submit a copy of the most recent IEP from within the last year.
  • Supporting Evaluation Documentation: Please submit a copy of the most recent evaluation documentation.
• Additional Special Education Documentation:
  
  • IEP Exit Documentation: If your student has been formally exited from special education services, please submit a copy of the formal exit documentation.
• 504 Plan: If your student has had a 504 Plan within the past three years, please submit a copy of this document.
• State Test Scores: Your student’s state assessment scores may be reviewed by an academic placement advisor during the course placement process. Please submit a copy if the results are available.

Ready to Enroll in Online School?

Once you have all of the required documentation (outlined above), you are ready to proceed with enrollment in Minnesota Connections Academy.