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Faribault Area Learning Center highlights credit recovery, symposiums and partnerships
Summary
Jake Hager, director of the Faribault Area Learning Center, told the school board the ALC celebrated multiple graduates, recovered 338 course credits through learning labs, held symposiums, and added a paid summer STEAM partnership that offered elective credit.
Jake Hager, director of the Faribault Area Learning Center (ALC), told the Faribault Public Schools board on Aug. 18 that the ALC marked another year of “family”-style supports, multiple graduation ceremonies and programs aimed at credit recovery and expanded student opportunities.
Hager said the ALC held two graduation celebrations during the year and graduated four students last summer, with “four more graduates” already during the summer before the new school year. He described the ALC’s symposiums — short, intensive course blocks that allow students to earn elective or, where aligned to standards, core credit — and listed offerings such as forensics, financial literacy, tanning and leatherworking, digital storytelling, anime and Japanese history.
Hager also described the district’s learning labs, held during the school day to provide credit recovery without many access barriers, and reported that “338 courses were recovered” through learning labs last year. He said the labs allow instructors to evaluate completed work and start students at their earned percentages (for example, starting at 58% rather than 0) so students can complete missing standards and reach passing marks.
On partnerships, Hager said the ALC teamed with Workforce Development, Inc. to place some students in a paid summer STEAM program; participating students earned elective credit while being paid for work. Hager said the ALC also expanded field trips and relationship-building activities, including visits to museums, colleges and job-expo-style events aimed at widening students’ exposure to careers and postsecondary options.
Board members praised the ALC. Director Linda Moore said the approach to credit recovery — starting students at their earned percentage — “makes sense” and congratulated staff for their work. Director Steeves described the economic value of graduation and noted that even graduates from alternative settings can see long-term earnings benefits. Board members thanked Hager and his staff for work that they said helps students bridge academic and social-emotional needs.
Hager emphasized the ALC’s focus on relationships and opportunities, telling the board the program treats the ALC “not just [as] a school, it really is a family.”
