Enroll
The Area Learning Center (ALC) is an alternative high school serving 14-21 year old students in District 196.
The ALC opened its doors in the fall of 1987. The small size of the school (approximately 180 students and 20 staff) allows staff to develop strong working relationships with students and provide a positive educational experience. Transportation is available for students who live in District 196 school boundaries.
Process
Our Administration team meets with every new student and their family prior to starting. Students are able to start at the beginning of one of our 12 terms. Term start dates can be found on both our school calendar (above) and on the enrollment meeting schedule linked below.
CONTACTS
Andrea Engstrom
ALC Coordinator
Andrea.Engstrom@district196.org
Scott Tryggeseth
Assistant Administrator Scott.Tryggeseth@district196.org
Alli Bakke
Registrar and Secretary to the Coordinator
Request to Register
My student is currently enrolled in District 196:
- Connect with your student's counselor at their current home high school.
- Call the Area Learning Center (ALC) at 952-431-8720 to be placed on the list of potential new students. A member of our Administration team will answer your questions and setup an enrollment meeting.
My student is not enrolled in District 196, but we live in the attendance area:
- Complete the pre-registration process on the Enrolling Your Child page.
- Select "First-time families with no children enrolled in grades K-12 in District 196."
My student is not enrolled in District 196, and we live outside the attendance area:
- Complete the Open Enrollment Application for each student you want to open enroll.
- Email the completed form to Kim.Reis@district196.org.
- Once our District Office receives this, you will be directed to complete the pre-registration process.
Special Education Enrollment
The ALC Special Education Program provides primarily Level 1 and Level 2 services for students with documented disabilities. A full continuum of special education services is available within the regular high school settings through Level 3. District 196 provides Level 4 Special Education Services at Dakota Ridge School.
If a prospective student currently receives special education services, please have the student’s case manager contact the ALC to schedule an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting with special education team members present from both schools. Best practice is to have the IEP meeting prior to the student beginning school at the Area Learning Center. For students with an IEP, two steps must occur prior to beginning classes at the ALC.
- Step 1 - The ALC Special Education Team must receive and review copies of your most recent IEP and evaluation report, and speak with your current case manager about your intent to transfer. PLEASE ASK YOUR CURRENT CASE MANAGER TO CONTACT THE ALC SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM.
- Step 2 - Unless you are transferring from another ALC (or outside the south metro area), your current case manager must arrange an IEP meeting, inviting an ALC Special Education Representative, to determine as a team whether or not the ALC can accommodate your special education services/needs, as specified in your IEP.
Nurse's Station
Gina Singer is our Nurse at the Area Learning Center. If you have any questions for Gina, please call 651-423-0655 or you may email Gina at Gina.Singer@District196.org.