Kittson Central Board learns of special ed online program concerns

By Jack Waters
Kittson Central School Board met April 29 and the most significant discussion of the meeting revolved around another local school district’s decision to launch an independent online academy based out-of-state that seems to be aimed at homeschool students.
Board member Mark Johnson zeroed in on the concern and said this could become a financial responsibility being thrust on the district based on a different Minnesota district offering the online academy service. That district, Grygla, is part of the special education co-op, Northwest RIC (Regional Interdistrict Council) that also includes Kittson Central.
According to Johnson, if a student who uses the online academy is a resident in Kittson Central’s district, the district would then be on the hook for a portion of the special education fees, with no say on how it happens.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking a year or two down the road. There could be a large number of students, which will then leave every school in this area exposed to excessive funding moving out the door,” said Johnson.
Another downriver worry Johnson mentioned is that over the next few years it could peel students out of the district. This posed financial risk would also apply to other school districts. If a resident student enrolls in the online academy and requires special education services, the home district remains financially responsible for a portion of those fees.
The outside entity has their own specialized teachers. But by Minnesota law, they’d have to be supervised by special ed directors with Minnesota licenses.

To read the whole story, see the May 6, 2026, edition of the Kittson County Enterprise