ISD 200 Special Services
Practices Statement
Dev. 8/12
Rev. 3/15
Hastings Area Learning Center (ALC): Referring Students on IEPs
A student must be eligible for placement in an area learning center program. Criteria is defined by Minnesota Statutes
and is printed on the back side or attached page.
If a student has been out of school for less than 90 days, he/she must return to Hastings High School where the most
recent IEP manager should follow the steps outlined below.
If a student had an IEP and has been out of school for 90 or more days, or is coming from outside the District, the
student must go to, or call the Hastings Area Learning Center. The ALC director will meet with the student and
parent/guardian and include the HHS Special Education Department Chair or designee to review the IEP and discuss
needs and services.
If the student is currently enrolled in and is receiving Special Education Services at Hastings High School, the
following events must occur before the student can be placed the Area Learning Center:
1. SET UP AN IEP MEETING AT HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL (HHS)
The IEP Manager must set up an IEP meeting to explore placement & IEP services. Discussion topics
should cover the reason for considering the ALC as well as a review of IEP needs, direct services and
accommodations/modifications. Present at that IEP should be the following:
 Parent & Student
 Current special education case manager
 General education teacher or representative
 HHS administration or designee (can be Special Ed Dept Chair)
 ALC Director
 HHS Counselor
2. SETUP INTAKE MEETING AT RECEIVING SCHOOL
If the result of the IEP meeting is that the ALC program would be an appropriate fit for a special education
student, an intake meeting should be set up at the ALC. The student must bring a referral form from his/her
School Counselor to help determine remaining credits.
NOTE: The HHS case manager will remain the point of contact for the student, parent, and school team.
Considerations for programming may include:
 Splitting time between HHS & the ALC. In this case, direct minutes may be delivered during the
student’s time at HHS.
 Full-time enrollment at the ALC. IEP team will determine how direct and indirect time will be
delivered to meet IEP goals. Special ed case manager is responsible for direct & indirect time.
 Accommodations/modifications. ALC staff responsible for delivering accommodations &
modifications for students on IEPs.
3. COMPLETE A SPECIAL EDUCATION CHANGE OF PLACEMENT (PWN) FORM
IEP decisions pertaining to changes in programming & services should be noted clearly and proposed to the
parent/guardian with a new IEP.
Other Items of Note:
1. The prospective student must wait until a slot become open (wait time varies - grading periods 9-10 weeks)
2. The prospective student must complete all appropriate paper work and have it turned in to the Program
Director prior to the beginning of the grading period in which a student plans to enroll
3. Students entering from Hastings Area High School must complete the withdrawal process from HHS
through their counselor. All books must be turned in at HHS before starting at the ALC. Students will not be
enrolled until this step at HHS is completed
ISD 200 Special Services
Practices Statement
Dev. 8/12
Rev. 3/15
ALC ELIGIBILITY
A student under the age of 21 must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible to enroll in an Area Learning
Center (Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.68):
1. Performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age in a locally determined
achievement test
2. Is at least one year behind in satisfactorily completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation
3. Is pregnant or is a parent
4. Has been assessed as chemically dependent
5. Has been excluded or expelled
6. Has been referred by a school district for enrollment in an eligible program
7. Is a victim of physical or sexual abuse
8. Has experienced mental health problems
9. Has experienced homelessness sometime within six months before requesting a transfer to an eligible program
10. Speaks English as a second language or has limited English proficiency
11. Has withdrawn from school or has been chronically truant
12. Is being treated in a hospital in the seven-county metropolitan area for cancer or other life-threatening illness or
is the sibling of an eligible pupil who is currently being treated, and resides with the pupil’s family at least 60
miles beyond the outside boundary of the seven-county metropolitan area.