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 170 students and 15 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.
August 2023 - UPDATED STAFF INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED SOON!
New ALC Students
Please contact the Area Learning Center at 952-431-8720 if you would like to get on the "list" of potential new ALC students. We will be meeting with students and families prior to their start date. The ALC registration team would like to meet with student and parent(s) to complete paperwork. If you are new to district 196, please start the process by registering online at https://www.district196.org/about/enrolling-your-child.
CONTACTS
Dave Schmitz
ALC Coordinator
Scott Tryggeseth
Assistant Administrator Scott.Tryggeseth@district196.org
Heide Kolhoff
Registrar and Secretary to the Coordinator
Transfer from a District 196 School to the ALC
For General Education Enrollment, please call the Area Learning Center (ALC) at 952.431.8720 to be placed on the list of potential new ALC student. Someone will contact you to set up a meeting with student and parent(s). If you are NEW to the District, please start by enrolling your student at https://www.district196.org/about/enrolling-your-child.
Nurse's Station
The ALC's nurse is Gina Singer. If you have any questions for Gina, please call 651-423-0655 or you may email Gina at Gina.Singer@District196.org.
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.