Relating to the provision of virtual education in public schools and to certain waivers and modifications by the commissioner of education to the method of calculating average daily attendance in an emergency or crisis for purposes of preserving school district funding entitlements under the Foundation School Program during that emergency or crisis; authorizing a fee.

New definitions for full-time hybrid campus, full-time hybrid program, full-time virtual campus, full-time virtual program, hybrid course, and virtual course are established in the new Chapter 30B.

Schools must now certify that hybrid or virtual courses meet quality standards, including essential knowledge and skills, appropriate rigor, and compliance with state or national online course standards.

Enhanced requirements for homeless and substitute care students include new provisions for course completion before the next school year, graduation plan reviews, and information about tuition exemptions for dual-credit courses.

New protections prevent schools from actively discouraging students from enrolling in virtual or hybrid courses through threats or intimidation.

The bill clarifies that schools cannot require teachers to provide both virtual and in-person instruction during the same class period, with limited exceptions for enrichment curriculum.

Funding rules are updated to allow districts to receive the same per-student funding for virtual/hybrid courses as for in-person courses, without requiring synchronous instruction at specific times.

Schools denying enrollment in virtual/hybrid courses must provide written explanations with appeal processes, and the commissioner may adopt rules to implement these provisions.