Lakes Area Charter School registration begins

Lakes Area Charter School, located at 601 Nokomis Street West in Osakis, offers an individualized program designed to meet the needs of students who are not thriving in the traditional school setting.

This fall, the school is enrolling students in grades 7 through 12. This is the first time an emphasis has been made on enrolling junior high students, although an occasional 8th grader has been enrolled in the past.

Lakes Area Charter’s mission is to provide quality education for their students, and guide them in personal growth and academic excellence.

The program includes state mandated academics, individual instruction, and technology with emphasis on each individual student’s needs. Enrollment is capped at 80 students each year, assuring quality individualized attention to every student.

Students graduate after completing all the state-required courses and earning the necessary 22 credits.

Russ Johnson and Lon Burgess are sharing the director’s position this year, leading the staff of five full-time and one part-time certified Minnesota teachers, office staff, one foster grandparent, and an authorized contact with the school’s sponsor, Alexandria Technical and Community College.

The charter school is a state and nationally-funded public school, so students attend for free. In addition, transportation is provided by Rainbow Rider from several area towns, and those students not able to ride from those sites are allowed transportation aid. Stops are in Long Prairie, Sauk Centre, Alexandria, Glenwood and Starbuck.

The school day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the teachers are on hand from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist students individually before and after the regular classes. The school calendar follows the public school calendar, with all of the same holidays.

For more information, call Melissa at (320) 859-8302, or toll free at 1-800-710-4788 or visit the website lakesareacharterschool.org.

ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS

Charter schools are independent public schools of choice for those seeking an alternative to traditional public schools. Currently there are 149 charter schools in operation in Minnesota serving more than 37,000 students.

Charter schools employ licensed teachers, offer services to special needs students and require students to take state and national tests to assure academic accountability. They do not charge tuition, and there are no admission requirements to enroll.

Tags: charter school, life, registration