Frequently Asked Questions

It's natural to have lots of questions during these unprecedented times. While we may not be able to help you find some of life's more important answers, we've got answers to questions you may have about the K12 site!

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I am not affiliated with the University of Minnesota; can I still work with you guys?

Absolutely! Whether you are a student at another University, a Minnesota state educator, or a community organization, we would love to work with you!

As a non UMN user, how can I create an account for your website?

You can start creating an account by visiting our Login page. Once there, click on the right button- "Non UMN User Login"- then follow the prompts given or read them outlined below to create an account.

  1. Near the top of the screen, click the middle button that says "Create new account."
  2. Enter your email address and username, then click "Create new account."
    *Note: If you have an account with CCEL, please use the same username!
  3. You should then be redirected to the home page where you will see the following message:
    "Thank you for applying for an account. Your account is currently pending approval by the site administrator.
    In the meantime, a welcome message with further instructions has been sent to your email address."

    Check your email; if an email was not sent to you, please contact [email protected] directly.
  4. Once the administrative team as approved your account application, you will receive an email with instructions on how to set up your password. Click the link provided in the email and follow the prompts to set up your passord.
    *Note: If you have an account with CCEL, please use the same password!
  5. You now have an account with K12 Learner Support!

Will I have to register for an account every time I log in?

No! You only need to register the very first time you try to log in. Once your account as been registered, you can log in using the login page.

How do I know if I'm logged in?

When you are logged in to the K12 site, you should see a black bar with your username at the top of the screen:

Admin bar screenshot

If you can see this bar at the top of the screen, you're good to go! For help, please contact [email protected].

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I tried to create a profile, but an Access Denied message popped up.

Certain users will only be able to access certain pages; a student does not need to make a school profile, and vice versa, so the K12 has set limitations to help guide users in the process. If you think there has been a mistake, please email [email protected] to make sure you have the correct account permissions!

Do I have to fill in EVERY field?

No; the fields that are required have an asterisk by them, and the site will not let you save save your profile until each required field is filled out. The fields that are not required, however, will help the K12 team learn about you and therefore help find the best possible match for you!

What if my answers to these questions will change in the coming months?

Try to fill out your profile to the best of your knowledge for the current time. You can always revise your profile once it has been created by clicking the Edit button on the view your profile page.

I don't see my question listed here/I need more help!

The K12 team would be happy to help you! Feel free to email [email protected] if you need more help, and someone will get back to you as quick as they can!

As a MN Educator, I'm not comfortable posting my MN File Number. Why do you need this?

This number is only for matching purposes to ensure that college students are matched with appropriate teachers. Your number will ONLY be seen by site administrators, and will not be used for any other purpose.

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How do I find a student/school/teacher/community organization to work with?

We set up a search page for each user: student, school and teacher, and community organization. Each successfully completed profile will show up on one of these three pages. Once there, you can filter by various different categories to narrow your search down. To read more from a profile, just click on the title!

I found a profile I want to work with! What do I do now?

To request working with a student/school or teacher/community organization, simply click the "Request" button at the bottom of each profile page. From there, you will be asked to complete a short form that will help the K12 team review your request.

Can I just email the user directly?

Please do not email the user directly. For both the safety of our college students and for the purposes of ensuring appropriate matches, it is necessary that you make a request using the button and form provided.

I never received a confirmation email after I sent in my request!

You should have received a short confirmation email within an hour after sending in your request. If you did not, please email [email protected] so we can help you!

When will I hear back about my request?

Users should expect to hear back about their request within a week. If it has been longer than a week and you have not heard back yet, please email [email protected]!

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Is there any special training I need to do to partcipate as a college student mentor?

Each school or organization may have unique requirements for college mentors; when you have been matched with a site, make sure you ask about their specific requirements! In addition, we ask that you pay close attention to the information on our Safety of Minors page and complete the requirements listed there.

I just requested a placement with Minneapolis Public Schools; what's my next step?

If you are requesting a virtual learner support placement in Minneapolis Public Schools, please follow this link to register with the district's placement registration system. The system allows MPS to

  1. conduct background checks,
  2. give credit to cooperating teachers, and
  3. 3) recruit student teachers/interns for open positions.

The background check will cost you $7.

Will the school site or orgaization I want to work with meet my course requirements?

If virtual learner support work is required for a credit-bearing course, please consult with your instructor or your course syllabus to ensure that you are selecting schools partnered with your course or program!