Enroll
The Area Learning Center (ALC) is a year-round 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 120 students and 12 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.
New Student Meetings
All new students and a parent or guardian (for those students under 18) are invited to attend an INFORMATIONAL MEETING. The meeting starts at 3:00 and lasts approximately 35 minutes. Please contact the Area Learning Center at 952-431-8720 if you have questions about the meeting.
New Student/Parent Meetings are held at 3 p.m. Please join us at our new building site in Eagan (2120 Silver Bell Road). Upcoming meeting dates:
- March 8, 2022
- April 5, 2022
- April 26, 2022
- May 17, 2022
ALC Student Orientation
The Orientation Class has been rolled into the student's school day. No separate class days for Orientation.
CONTACTS
Dave Schmitz
ALC Coordinator
Heide Kolhoff
Registrar and Secretary to the Coordinator
Lisa Brom
Special Education Case Manager
Lisa.Brom@district196.org
New to District 196
If your student receives special education support (has an IEP), please scroll down to Special Education Enrollment.
If you are new to District 196 or have not been enrolled at a District 196 school for over one year, please complete the forms below.
New students, please complete the below forms:
- K-12 Pre-Registration (NEW STUDENTS) Form
- ALC Application for New Students & Bus Request
- Minnesota Language Survey
- Minnesota Ethnic and Racial Demographic Form
- Request for Records
Please return completed forms to the Area Learning Center (ALC):
- Email Michelle.Slater; or
- Fax to 952-431-8722; or
- Mail to 2120 Silver Bell Road, Eagan, MN 55122.
If forms are not completed and returned to the ALC prior to the New Parent/Student meeting, parent and student will receive the packet at the new student meeting and forms can be completed then.
Transfer from a District 196 School to the ALC
If your student receives special education support (has an IEP), please scroll down to Special Education Enrollment.
General Education Enrollment information is below for students presently enrolled at a District 196 school. If you are NEW to the District, please refer to "New to District 196" above. Return completed forms to the Area Learning Center (ALC):
- Use the "submit" button (if submit button does not work for you, please save form and email to Michelle);
- Email Michelle.Slater;
- Fax to 952-431-8722; or
- Mail to 2120 Silver Bell Road, Eagan, MN 55122.
If you prefer to have forms emailed to you, please contact Michelle Slater. If forms are not completed and returned to the ALC prior to the New Parent/Student meeting, parent and student will receive the packet at the new student meeting and forms can be completed then.
application for students currently enrolled within District 196
Nurse's Station
The ALC's nurse is Susanne Burke. Learn more about general information about health records, immunizations, and administering medications at school. Please review and reach out to Susanne Burke if you have any questions.
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 Terese Kunick or Michelle Slater to schedule an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting with special education team members present from both schools. Terese's email is Terese.Kunick@district196.org and Michelle Slater's email is Michelle.Slater@district196.org. 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 no less than two days before the term's New Student Informational Meeting date:
- 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. FAX THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK AS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
- 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.