• Tonka Online courses serve high school students across Minnesota, including students from Districts outside Minnetonka, charter schools, private schools and students who are in homeschool.
• This is a supplemental program which allows you to take up to half of your classes online, while staying in your home district or program.

• Students from outside Minnetonka Public Schools should follow the online application process.
• Minnetonka students can register through Skyward using the same procedures you would for regular courses.

Students in the Minnetonka School District

• In-District Students should sign-up for classes during the regular registration window
• Minnetonka students should talk to their school counselor if they want to register after Skyward registration closes. Minnetonka students will still pay via Skyward Fee Management.
• Important deadlines and information can be found on the In-District registration page.

Students Outside of the Minnetonka School District

• Depending on class size, we may be able to enroll students past the final deadline, pending approval. Please email tonkaonline@minnetonkaschools.org to inquire about late enrollment.
• Important deadlines and information can be found on the Out-of-District registration page.

Drop Deadlines

Student may drop a course with no record in Skyward in the first two weeks of the course.

• Incompletes can be given per teacher discretion to students who have been making progress but need extra time to complete the course requirements. Course work must be completed in a two-week window. If course work is not completed in that time, the grade will be changed to their existing grade. This is consistent with Minnetonka High School protocol.
• No drops are allowed in the last two weeks of any course.

If you are taking a Tonka Online course as a part of a student's regular schedule, there is no charge to the family for a Tonka Online course.

However, if you are taking a Tonka Online course as an additional course outside of your regular schedule (for example, if you have a 6-period schedule and you take a Tonka Online course as a 7th class) there is a fee of $395* for Semester 0.5 Credit Courses (P1 = $395 and P2 = $395) with the exception of Fitness A and Wellness B Physical Education courses. They are $315 each.

*Fees are subject to change.

When you attend a public school and Tonka Online is part of your regular schedule within the school day and during the school year, there is no charge for a Tonka Online course.

If you are taking a Tonka Online course and attend private school or are homeschooled, there is a fee.

When you are taking a Tonka Online course as an extra class or over the summer, there is a fee.

During Summer
Payment is due before the first day of the course. You will be sent a direct link to the webstore. After payment is received, allow 2-3 business days to gain access in the course. After payment is received, access to the online course will be granted.

During the School Year
An invoice and payment details will be emailed from our Business Office to the parent email address provided on the Registration Form.

Minnetonka District families will pay through Skyward Fee Management or by check to the Bursar at the high school.

Out-of-District families will be sent an invoice from the Bursar at the high school. Additional payment information will be included in your Welcome Letter.

Refund Policy*

• Full refund if the course is cancelled.
• Full refund if the course is dropped before the first day of the course.
• Full refund less $100 Administrative fee if the course is dropped within the first 14 days (2 weeks). Ex. $395 course fee - $100 Admin fee = $295 refund.
• No refund if the course is dropped after the 14th day.

*Note: Weekend days are included in the calculation of class days.

Course sessions align with the Minnetonka School District calendar.

Yes. Tonka Online courses count just the same as a traditional course. Minnetonka Public School District students will receive a letter grade and credit for courses completed through Tonka Online on their transcripts.

Some courses (Pre AP Chem, Pre AP Bio for example) are available to audit. Students who audit a Tonka Online course participate fully in the course, but a grade will not appear on their transcript, simply a record that they took the course.

Being a successful online learner requires time and dedication to your studies. During the school year, students may take up to half of their courses online per semester.

For summer term, it is strongly recommended students take no more than one course due to the intensive timeline.

Yes. Tonka Online courses are designed and taught by experienced Minnetonka High School teachers. Academic support is available by these experienced teachers either virtually or in person (if you attend Minnetonka High School).

Each course is designed specifically for online learning to ensure students receive an exceptional experience. There are a variety of methods for instruction depending on the particular courses and their requirements ranging from digital textbooks, video lessons, online simulations, tutorials, readings, discussion boards, and Schoology quizzes.

Being a student online will be a shift for many learners. Our goal is to provide every possible resource to support your academic success.

There are two parts to orientation for students in Tonka Online. The first part involves a student completing the required documentation that is outlined in the Tonka Online Schoology site. This will introduce you to the expectations as a learner and all necessary forms and documentation.

The second part of the orientation process is the meeting that is either held virtually (such as through Skype) or at Minnetonka High School with the teacher and other students in the class. Parents are welcome to attend this orientation meeting as well.

This is a common question for students considering an online course. While the coursework and assignments can be done when they fit a student’s schedule, there is still an expectation of regular work in all courses. A general rule of thumb is about 5-7 hours per week for each course. Online PE is a less, with about 45 min of coursework (not including routine fitness activities).

Most Tonka Online courses are designed to be primarily self-paced, however the instructors may provide a recommended calendar and timeline to stay on track.  Typically, we suggest spending about the same amount of time each week that the student would be in class, 5-7 hours, to stay on track with course work. Students can choose a time that works best for them during the day, allowing flexibility in their schedule. There is no daily attendance, however teachers will notify students that are not making regular progress to help them stay on track for course completion.

Grading will closely align with traditional Minnetonka classrooms, and have both formative and summative assessments. Feedback will be continual and timely in an effort to maintain high levels of student success. Please review the grading policy on page 8 of the Student Handbook.

If you attend Minnetonka High School, Tonka Online students work in the Media Center during their scheduled online course period. Provided it is not distracting to others, juniors and seniors who are scheduled for a Tonka Online class can utilize any space in the building for their study time.

Students enrolling in Tonka Online from outside the District select a space and time best suited to their learning needs.

Yes. Tonka Online not only provides a vehicle to extend learning through the summer months, but it also provides a mobile learning environment. All that is needed is a dependable internet connection.

• Students who are planning to travel and will not be able to access the internet consistently during that time must make a plan with the instructor in advance of their departure.
• In order to stay current in coursework you should not be away from an internet connection for more than a week at a time.
• You may work ahead to avoid missing important due dates, or discuss an adjusted time frame with the course instructor.

No. You will be expected to stay on pace with the course and will complete the course on schedule and receive the grade you have earned.

Tonka Online staff will be available during the first two weeks to help with logistical questions in the High School Port, Monday - Thursday 9:30 - 12:30.  For course specific help, the best way is to connect with the instructor through Schoology.

Each course is led by a Minnetonka High School teacher who guides students through the curriculum. Tonka Online courses provide a highly-personalized learning path that aims at empowering you to manage your time while providing a structure to keep you motivated and on-track to complete the coursework.

Course curriculum includes modules or units. You have some flexibility in the completion of units/modules, but you are expected to meet the targeted deadlines. Because the coursework requires an ongoing effort, you will need to spend time working in Schoology at least 3-4 times per week.

As you navigate through the units/modules of the course, you will engage with the instructor and other students in a highly collaborative environment that includes the thoughtful use of discussion boards, Google Docs and online virtual conferencing.

The intent of Tonka Online is not to replace the rich learning experience that takes place in a traditional classroom, but rather to supplement this experience with new opportunities for students. Our goal is to provide a world-class online experience that provides students with more course options and increased flexibility in scheduling.

Becoming a successful online learner is an integral skillset that students should master to thrive in the 21st Century. Many students will take online courses in college or post-secondary careers and find themselves with no preparation for success. Online learning through Tonka Online allows you to experience online learning with the guidance of a highly-qualified instructor that is dedicated to ensuring your success in the course and the support of a highly-structured program.

Encourage your child to use help-seeking strategies if he/she doesn’t understand something. This includes contacting the teacher, requesting a time to meet during virtual or office hours, asking peers for clarity, conducting research to learn more, or rereading the instructions for clarity. To create good study habits, students should set a schedule, set aside uninterrupted time to focus on coursework, and actively participate with their classmates and the instructor. As a general practice, students should be encouraged to login at least 3-4 times a week to Schoology.

Being a successful online learner means that students also understand the importance of digital health and wellness. Parents can take advantage of free resources to help promote responsibility and ethical use of technology. Plagiarism is never acceptable and could result in an automatic failure of the course. Help your child understand the seriousness of plagiarism. (To learn more about plagiarism, please visit Plagiarism.org.)

Credits earned in all Tonka Online courses will appear just like any other credit that students may earn while in high school. Minnetonka does not differentiate between an online and a traditional course in content or expectations, therefore there is no difference on a student transcript. In fact, students may take at least one online course as they continue their education after high school, so Tonka Online gives students a great opportunity to develop online learning skills.