Admission Criteria:

The student must be referred by their home district principal, fully complete the enrollment forms, and schedule a parent/teacher conference with the Principal.

To qualify the student must meet at least one of the following graduation eligibility criteria:

• Performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age in a locally determined achievement test.
• Is at least one year behind in satisfactory completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation.
• Is pregnant or is a parent.
• Has been assessed as chemically dependent.
• Has been excluded or expelled.
• Has been referred by a school district for enrollment in an eligible program.
• Is a victim of physical or sexual abuse.
• Has experienced mental health problems.
• Has experienced homelessness sometime within six months before requesting a transfer.
• Has been chronically truant or has withdrawn from school.

Areas of Service:
The Area Learning Center serves approximately 50 students each school year. Service to students falls into three primary categories:

Prevention
The Area Learning Center night and summer school program provide students the opportunity to earn credits in core classes they did not pass during the school year. The activities in these classes complement what students are learning in school using a different approach. Students are able to work at their own pace on projects and course work and receive individual instruction.

Intervention
The day school and independent study program make up the Intervention component of the Area Learning Center. The day program takes 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. The independent study program addresses the needs of students who are achieving within their traditional school, but need an option to help recover credits.

Recovery
When a student is no longer in school, it can be difficult to return to the classroom. Students who fear returning to a traditional school or who have had a life altering event that makes it hard for them to return can participate in our Area Learning Center Program. Often students returning to school benefit from a smaller setting. The Area Learning Center provides smaller settings with individualized instruction for students who are lacking basic academic skills, pregnant or teen parents, expelled students and students recovering from addiction. The Area Learning Center program helps students recover who would have otherwise not continued their education.