Under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.11, school boards are to adopt a long-term, comprehensive strategic plan to support and improve teaching and learning. This plan addresses the following five goals:

• All children are ready for school.
• All third-graders can read at grade level.
• All racial and economic achievement gaps between students are closed.
• All students are ready for career and college.
• All students graduate from high school.

The legislation also focuses on ensuring all students have equitable access to excellent teachers. Districts are to ensure they have a process in place to examine the equitable distribution of teachers and strategies to ensure low-income students, students of color, and American Indian students are not taught at higher rates than other children by inexperienced, ineffective, or out-of-field teachers. 

Alexandria Public Schools 2022-23 World's Best Workforce Summary Report

2024-2025 Local Literacy Plan

The goal for the Alexandria Public Schools American Indian Education Program is to work together with American Indian parents, guardians and families in order to meet the unique educational and cultural needs of students of American Indian heritage. Alexandria Public Schools goal is to connect students and families to school resources, advocate for appropriate interventions and provide materials/resources as needed to support learning at home and school. We support students in becoming college and career ready. 

 

Since 2001, Alexandria Public Schools has had a comprehensive induction program for new teachers.  Our model is developed around the components of highly effective induction programming such as administrative support, professional development and mentoring.  Prior to the start of the school year, new teachers attend five days of orientation facilitated by the District Teacher Mentorship Coordinator. Through monthly seminars, coaching observations, reflective practice and working with trained mentors we continue the support and development of our new teachers throughout their entire probationary period.

Our mentor training seminars are built upon research based, time-proven strategies and programs.

In my role as the Induction Coordinator I support probationary staff in their first three years in the district by connecting them with trained mentors, assisting them as they become acclimated to the district, serving as a resource and offering professional development opportunities. I also teach CAPS Teacher Education / Foundations of Education at Alexandria Area High School concurrent with Southwest Minnesota State University.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th, 11th and 12th grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level, nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. 11th and 12th grade students may take PSEO courses on a full or part-time basis; 10th graders may take one career/technical PSEO course during the first term of PSEO enrollment. If a 10th grader earns at least a “C” in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses.

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed or for textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies. 

Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for PSEO students whose families are at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal government, to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. 

To assist the district in planning, a pupil must inform the district by May 30 for the following fall semester and October 30 for the following spring semester of the pupil’s intent to enroll in postsecondary courses. For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.

State eligibility guidelines are as follows...

• Seniors - Top half of class or better
• Juniors - Top third of class or better
• Sophomores - 8th grade MCA Reading composite proficiency level of "meets or exceeds" (for CTE courses only)
• Qualifying Scores on ACT or Placement Test

Process

• Student/Parent/Counselor Meeting is required to initiate PSEO application.
• Please note that Colleges may set PSEO enrollment standards at a higher level.

Other information

• Students' grades become part of their permanent college transcript
• Student is responsible for fulfilling high school graduation requirements
• Parents are not notified of attendance or programs
• Students' peer group changes; part of an adult environment instead of a high school setting
• Academic schedules at the high school and the college do not align

For questions on PSEO please contact:

Darcy Josephson, Asst. Superintendent - Teaching & Learning, (320) 762-2141 ext. 4205, djosephson@alexschools.org

e-Learning Plan

Alexandria Public Schools 

E-Learning Plan 2024-2025 (07/25/2024)
 

E-learning day means a school day where a school offers full access to online instruction provided by students’ individual teachers due to inclement weather. A school district can have up to five (5) e-learning days in one school year. An e-learning day is counted as a day of instruction and included in the hours of instruction under section 120A.41.

Alexandria Public Schools builds in three (3) inclement weather days. The first inclement weather day would be a non-school day (traditional “snow day”). For the remaining days the superintendent will have the discretion to determine if a day will be an e-learning day with student contact or a “snow day” with no student contact. If it is known there is a possibility of a “snow day” a day in advance, the superintendent may decide to have staff prepare for an e-learning day. Parents and students must be notified at least two hours prior to the normal school start time that students will follow the e-learning plan for the day. In grades 6-12, Schoology will continue to be utilized for instruction and in grades PreK-2 Seesaw will be utilized for instruction and in grades 3-5 Seesaw or Google Classroom will be utilized as a platform for instruction. A parent should notify the teacher or principal if the student has any barriers in participating in an e-learning day. Accessible options will be provided for any students' with disabilities.

Students’ teachers and support staff will be accessible both online and by telephone throughout the normal school hours on an e-learning day. All full-time and part-time staff will work their regular hours. Instruction for the day may be both synchronous and asynchronous. If a teacher has leave on the day of an e-learning day the communication for students/families will be through the principals. Attendance will be taken on e-learning days. 

Click HERE to view Alexandria Public Schools Electronic Curriculum Assessments Tools.