Alternative Education
Handbook
GCED Alternative Learning Center (ALC)
The Minnesota Department of Education supports alternative education options for students to provide viable educational options for those students who are experiencing difficulty in the traditional system. Individual school districts and educational cooperatives are eligible to apply to be an Area Learning Center (ALC).
An ALC provides comprehensive educational services to enrolled secondary students throughout the year. This could include a daytime school within a school or separate site for both high school and middle school level students. Students must be at-risk as defined by statute. In addition to day programs, these centers offer extended learning time opportunities for students to engage in additional learning (Targeted Services) or to make-up credits (Credit Recovery). ALCs serve students from more than one district. ALCs must also provide services to middle level students, either at a separate site or within their school. ALCs can apply to provide Targeted Services to elementary age students in after school and summer school programs.
The Goodhue County Education District partnered with its member districts near the end of the 2012-2013 school year to become a state recognized ALC. This means that each GCED member school district has access to the existing ALC day programs, as well as credit recovery and Targeted Services programming.
Questions?
Contact your principal or
Brian Cashman
Coordinator of Alternative Programs
651-764-9016
bcashman@gced.k12.mn.us
ALC Programs
Pathways Program
@
Twin Bluff Middle School
(alternative option for grades 6 and 7)
Pathways Program
@
River Bluff Education Center
(alternative option for grades 8-12)
Tower View Alternative High School
(alternative option for grade 10 through age 21)
Targeted Services
@
Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Lake City, Red Wing, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa
(before school, after school, weekend, and/or summer school programs for students in grades K-8)
Credit Recovery
@
Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Lake City, Red Wing, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa
(before school, after school, weekend, and/or summer credit recovery programs for students in grades 9-12)
Alternative Schools
Pathways Program
Middle School Level
(grades 6 and 7)
At the grade 6-7 level, the Pathways Program is a 'school-within-a-school', meaning that the students spend about half the day together and half the day with their grade level peers.
Program highlights include small class size, a 90-minute block of literacy instruction each day, and hands-on learning.
Program Administrator
Bobbi Seleski
651-385-4530
Teacher
Danny Nelson
651-385-4540
Pathways Program
Middle School/High School Level
(grades 8-12)
River Bluff Education Center
395 Guernsey Lane
Red Wing, MN 55066
The Pathways Program is a full day alternative school option for students in grades 8 through 12.
Program highlights include small class size and a core group of content area instructors to provide students the support that they need to earn a high school diploma and have a meaningful post-high school transition.
Program Administrator
Nicole Bolduan, Director/Principal
651-388-4441
Program Coordinator
Jennifer Marquardt, RBEC Coordinator
651-388-4441
Tower View Alternative High School
(grades 10-12+)
Anderson Center
154 Tower View Drive
Red Wing, MN 55066
Program highlights include a self-paced curriculum, flexible scheduling, small class size, personalized learning, and unique high-interest courses.
Program Administrator
Kim Cory
651-388-4441
Intake Contact
Kim Cory
651-388-4441
Credit Recovery
Each Goodhue County Education District member district is eligible to offer credit recovery programming at the high school level. Typically, credit recovery programs occur after the school day (i.e. "night school") and in the summer (i.e. "summer school"). The school districts of Goodhue, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Lake City, and Red Wing all offer some form of credit recovery. There are also two member school districts that run an internal credit recovery schedule during the school day (Cannon Falls and Zumbrota-Mazeppa) and two programs (Pathways Program 8-12 and Tower View Alternative High School) that enable students to regain any missing credits.
For more information, please see your building principal.
Targeted Services
Targeted Services are extended time learning opportunities designed to support student academic and social-emotional development. Targeted Services can be offered before school, after-school, in the summer, and/or on the weekends or school breaks. Students qualify for programming based on a set of criteria set forth by the state of Minnesota and covers Kindergarten through Grade 8 in a given school year. Please note that incoming Kindergarten students and outgoing Grade 8 students are not eligible for Targeted Services programming during the summer of their transition year.
Credit Recovery Forms & Overviews
Additional
-
Extended Time Data Form: Form to be completed and sent to the GCED MARSS Coordinator
-
Continual Learning Plan (CLP) Template: Each enrolled student needs to have a completed CLP on file at the program site and at GCED
-
Operational Flowchart: External and internal action steps
-
Logistical Requirements: Actions that must be taken, forms that must be completed, due dates
-
Fidelity Checklist: Evidence of meeting fidelity markers
-
Extended School Year Flowchart: Special education and general education procedures for summer programs
Targeted Services Forms & Overviews
Credit Recovery class request to be completed and sent to the GCED Coordinator of Alternative Programs
-
Extended Time Data Form: Form to be completed and sent to the GCED MARSS Coordinator
-
Best Practice: Credit Recovery fidelity checklist
-
Continual Learning Plan (CLP) Template: Each enrolled student needs to have a completed CLP on file at the program site and at GCED