Area Learning Center
With more than 30 Area Learning Center (ALC) program options, Intermediate District 287 offers a personalized, informal and more flexible way of learning. Services are provided year round for students as young as age 5 to age 21 who need alternatives to reach their potential and to fulfill educational goals. Classes are held at convenient sites during days and evening hours to accommodate students' schedules. All students who elect to attend ALC programming must qualify under the Graduation Incentives Program.
ALC programs are built on the idea that education is best achieved when a small group of caring people team together to help one another. All programs strive to provide social, emotional and academic support for each student. ALC programs:
- Use non-traditional methods to help learners achieve academic and learning skills.
- Incorporate trade and vocational skills in the student's learning plan.
- Provide career exploration and work experience opportunities.
- Help students make the transition back to mainstream schools, to schools of higher education and to the workplace.
- Assist students in coping with or solving their personal and social problems.
- Help young people cope with personal crises and move on to academic and social growth.
Prevention, Intervention and Recovery
ALC programs fit into three broad categories:
- Prevention programs identify children in elementary and middle school who are at social or academic risk and work to get students back on track by participating in classes before or after school and during the summer. Class activities complement what students are learning in school, but offer a different learning approach. Programming is developed based on the assumption that if students have fallen behind, giving them "more of the same" may not help them succeed rather alternative approaches are utilized.
- Intervention programs
include middle level programming and
Independent Study programs. Middle Level
programs take place in small "learning communities" where students
who are behind in their studies or who are developing negative social
attitudes receive personal support and direction.
Independent Study programs address the credit needs of students who are achieving within their traditional school, but need an option to help recover credits or to meet performance standards.
- Recovery programs are typically fulltime, day programs which serve students who have not been successful in a traditional school or who have had a life altering event that makes it hard for them to return to a traditional school setting. The Recovery Programs provide a smaller setting with specialized programs for students needing basic academic skills building, pregnant or teen parents, expelled students and students recovering from addiction. These programs help students who otherwise might not continue their education.
Intermediate District 287's ALC serves students who live within 13 Hennepin County school districts. Students from other Minnesota school districts may also participate; see graduation incentives.