Area Learning Center

by Owen Schwalm staff

The Area Learning Center (ALC) is a school a part

District for students with classes, and if you’re someone that learns better way, ALC might be the way to go,” said senior LJ Davis.

For senior Ariel Certa, the class sizes of only to fve students is extremely helpful. “It makes it easier to speak with anyone and then connect,” said Certa. According to research by Elevations RTC, a foundation centered around providing students with support and guidance, smaller classrooms allow students with social anxiety to form better relationships with peers in and out of the classroom.

There are many differences between the ALC and normal public schools. One of these differences is the ALC’s emphasis on fulflling credit requirements quickly. “I feel like ALC is kind of just ‘get your credits [and] stuff’ but [is] also more [of a] smaller school for people who deal with anxiety or have other stuff going on in their life,” said Certa.

She believes that the ALC is a great place for students to continue their education while also managing mental health issues. “[If a student] fails to deal with other mental health issues, they could just come here, and they have more opportunities to ceive a college degree by age 30 according to StayTeen, an organization focused on preventing teen pregnancy. The ALC is currently working to give these teen mothers a chance by working with Silverview Childcare. Silverview Childcare partners with the ALC to provide students with children an opportunity to continue their education while also having a safe place for their children.

The ALC also provides students with the opportunity to get out of the classroom and explore the real world. Students in the ALC are able to go on a feld trip every Friday and experience new things. “We could go to colleges or we go to museums or different places to work at,” said Certa. be able to graduate or be able to stay on task with their education,” said Certa.

The ALC provides a unique and valuable educational experience for students who may have different needs or desires than those in a typical public school setting. While some may view the ALC as solely for credit recovery, it also provides resources for teen parents and opportunities for students to explore the real world outside of the classroom. Overall, the ALC serves as a vital educational option for students who may not thrive in a traditional public school setting, and can be considered as a viable option for those seeking a more personalized and supportive academic environment.

The ALC also offers resources to teen parents looking to complete their high school education. More than 50% of teenage mothers will never graduate from high school and less than 2% of teen mothers will re-

Mounds View Alternative Education

programs and special education opportunities offered Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504s and the programs offers students and individualized experience their own needs.

are kept anonymous due to privacy concerns special education.

ule rather than restructuring a student’s learning environment. A 504 provides students with accommodations that ft their needs, such as allowing students a break from class when they feel overstimulated, granting more time on tests if they struggle to take tests under timed conditions or arranging another room for testing if a student struggles to complete tests in a normal setting. “I prefer to test in a separate area because I get testing anxiety,” said the student. Essentially, a 504 seeks to provide stu-

Student with a 504 dents with equitable access to the traditional learning environment, while an IEP provides qualifying students with educational benefts, such as speech and occupational therapy.

Students who qualify can see exceptional benefts from enrolling in a 504 plan. 504 accommodations ft the unique needs of a student and are, therefore, fairly versatile. Furthermore, a 504 plan is a legally binding document, so teachers and school staff must comply with the provisions. This ensures that a student with a 504 plan is receiving the accommodations they need to be successful.

However, some students may feel reluctant to partake in the 504 accommodations due to the stigma that surrounds 504 participants. “I do believe there are stigmas around 504s,” said the student. “There could be people that look down on those with 504s [with] judgment because they need extra help, or people might not think someone needs a 504.” Yet, most of the people who question the necessity of 504s lack a general understanding of their purpose. The main goal of 504s is to provide students with the tools they need in the moment and prepare that student to eventually outgrow those accommodations in the future.

504s are an important program that ensures that students with disabilities have access to the education they need to succeed. By providing reasonable accommodations and services, schools can help these students overcome the barriers they face and achieve their full potential.