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Department of Alternative Education
Providing focused, alternative daytime, extended day, and summer learning opportunities to support student achievement leading to graduation.
The Department of Alternative Education (DAE) leads SPPS alternative education programs year-round. We offer 25+ different programs serving students in grades K-12, including three high schools. Our programs engage students using innovative methods such as experiential, hands-on, and project-based learning. All programs support academic and social-emotional growth. Community partnerships, leading-edge use of technology, and collaboration with other alternative education leaders nationwide ensure SPPS students experience the best school-year daytime and after-school opportunities along with summer programming. All programs are FREE. Afternoon and evening programs include snacks/meals. Transportation may be offered per SPPS transportation guidelines and the availability of bus drivers).
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AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
After-school programs offer instructional programming for students in grades K-12, providing additional learning time to enhance academic and social-emotional skills, explore new interests and talents, and foster new friendships. These programs include Elementary Extended Day for Learning (EDL), Middle School Extended Day for Learning (EDL), High School Credit Recovery & English Language Development Programs, School-based Extended Day for Learning (EDL), Evening High School (EHS), and Online Credit Recovery Network (CRN), all led by professional educators. Students can participate in these programs voluntarily and at no cost, giving them the opportunity to achieve academic proficiency, stay on grade level and remain on track to graduate.
Elementary
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Extended Day for Learning (EDL)
Extended Day for Learning (EDL) offers students fun, engaging activities to strengthen academic and social emotional skills. Instrumental Music, Lego League, and Freedom School Express are available at some schools for select grade levels. Licensed teachers and community partners provide a variety of hands-on STEM, Arts, P.E., Instrumental Music and Math/Literacy experiences to get students excited about learning while making new friends and improving their skills.
How to register: Contact your student's school.
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Extended Day for Learning PLUS (EDL PLUS)
Extended Day for Learning PLUS (EDL PLUS) is offered by the Department of Alternative Education. It is funded through COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and will be expanded to additional schools. EDLPLUS offers after-school learning opportunities that provide hands-on, project-based experiences to engage students in topics they are interested in.
The 2023-24 EDL PUS schools are:
- Cherokee Heights Elementary
- Eastern Heights Elementary
- Hamline Elementary Elementary
- Highwood Hills Elementary
- Txuj Ci HMong Langauge & Culture Lower Campus
- Riverview School of Excellence
- Wellstone Elementary
EDL PLUS schools were selected using student achievement and Extended Day for Learning data. Classes are led by SPPS teachers and community instructors to ensure our students have the best learning experiences.
Bus transportation is not available at this time.
How to register: Registration for EDL PLUS will be done at the same time as registration for EDL
Middle School
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Flipside
Flipside is an after-school combination of Extended Day for Learning (EDL) and 21st Century Community Education programs. Students attending Flipside participate in both components. Flipside is designed to have a positive impact on student achievement and social emotional skills. The program develops partnerships with schools, families, and the community. Flipside is intentionally designed to achieve program outcomes for participation, experience, and quality.
How to register: Contact your student's school.
High School
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High School Credit Recovery & English Language Learner (ELL) Language Development
Students needing an opportunity to recover credits can sign up for courses each quarter. Ninth through eleventh grade-students can take up to two courses each quarter and seniors can take three courses. Course requests may be fulfilled either at the home school through Extended Day Learning (EDL), Evening High School (EHS), or the Credit Recovery Network (CRN). The program in which a student is placed is dependent upon course offerings at their home school through EDL and/or the student’s grade for EHS. Depending on the type of courses needed, students may be enrolled in more than one program.
- Extended Day Learning (EDL)
- Students connect with a teacher at their home school during scheduled class times to finish course material from previous classes
- School sites vary each quarter
- Courses open to 9th - 12th grades
- Monday/Wednesday - Tuesday/Thursday
- 3:15 - 4:15
- Evening High School (EHS)
- Students complete coursework and recover credits necessary; classes are online and students connect with teachers during scheduled times
- Courses open to 11th and 12th grades
- Monday/Wednesday - Tuesday/Thursday
- 4:15 - 5:15 and 5:15 - 6:15 online
- Credit Recovery Network (CRN)
- Students work independently on course content material that is online and self-paced with the support of teachers during scheduled online time
- Courses open to 9th - 12th grades
- Monday/Wednesday - Tuesday/Thursday
- 3:15 - 4:15 online or time determined by the teacher in the afternoon/evening
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ALTERNATIVE SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Saint Paul Public Schools uses a nationally recognized alternative education model to provide non-traditional educational programs to help students earn their high school diplomas. Each school year hundreds of students are enrolled in one of our three diploma-granting alternative education secondary programs.
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Evening High School
Evening High School (EHS) provides students with the opportunity to complete coursework and recover credits necessary for high school graduation.
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Gateway to College
Gateway to College, located at Saint Paul College, is a comprehensive program offering students the opportunity to finish high school while beginning college. Founded in 2013, Gateway to College creates a caring community that supports broad college opportunities by developing relationships and personalizing education plans in a challenging learning environment with collegiate expectations for all learners.
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Gordon Parks High School
Gordon Parks is a comprehensive high school providing alternative pathways to graduation and opportunities for life-long learning success since 1991. Gordon Parks High School honors the legacy of Gordon Parks, a prominent American photographer, musician, writer and film director whose work reflects interest in issues of poverty and civil rights.
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LEAP High School
LEAP (Limited English Achievement Program) is a comprehensive high school dedicated to serving students who are new to the United States and who are learning English while earning a high school diploma. LEAP was founded in the autumn of 1994 by Jeff Dufresne and Sandra Hall as a high school for newly arrived immigrants to the city of Saint Paul.
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SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS
Grades PreK-12 Summer Learning Programs help students strengthen academic and social emotional skills, discover new talents, and recover high school credits. Examples of program themes include: Experiential & Project-Based Learning; Environmental Studies; Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM); Leadership; and, Languages & Cultural Studies. All programs are FREE.
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Summer Programs
- PreK Summer Program (for students enrolled in SPPS's PreK Program during the 2022-23 school year)
- Summer Stars (K-4)
- Language Immersion & Culture (K-4)
- Power Scholars Academy (K-4)
- Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School (K-8)
- Environmental STEM Program (3-8)
- Summer Quest (5-8)
- Experiential Credit Recovery (9-10)
- Session One/Session Two Credit Recovery (9-10) & EL Language Support
- Session One: EL Language Development (9-12)
- Session Two: EL Levels 1 & 2 Writer's Workshop
- Session One/Session Two: Credit Recovery Intensive (11-12)
- Session One/Session Two: Credit Recovery Network (9-12)
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Registration
Registration for 2023 Summer Learning Programs is closed.
Job Opportunties
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Extended Day for Learning 2023-24 Job Opportunities
Extended Day for Learning (EDL), held through SPPS Department of Alternative Education (DAE), takes place at schools 2-4 days per week October-May. The program provides focused, alternative opportunities to support student achievement leading to graduation, including credit recovery for students in grades 9-12.Licensed and non-licensed staff are hired to work in leadership and support staff roles. Consider this employment opportunity. It’s a great way to earn extra income and help your school’s students grow academically, socially and emotionally.
School site leader will be chosen by September 1, 2023 and the deadline for hiring teachers and support staff is September 15, 2023. If you are interested in working during EDL, let your school’s principal and/or EDL site leader know.
Contact your school’s principal and/or the following DAE staff to find out more information about leadership and support staff EDL 2023-24 opportunities:
- Grades K-5: thy.dung.nguyen@spps.org
- Grades 6-8: christopher.ederer@spps.org
- Grades 9-12: elizabeth.mercil@spps.org
- Instrumental Music: gina.engelking@spps.org
- EDL PLUS and Lego League: jennifer.ratte@spps.org