Options

An Alternative Learning Program

Welcome to Options at Edina High School. Options is a state-approved alternative learning program located within Edina High School. It is designed to provide students who qualify with a second chance at designing and pursuing a graduation plan.

Students who are interested in taking courses through the Options alternative learning program must be considered at-risk under at least one of the state-determined categories called Graduation Incentives. Intake into the Options program for full-time students will be considered after:

a referral from a guidance counselor or administrator; and
a meeting with a parent, student, guidance counselor, and the program coordinator

Graduation Incentives

A student under the age of 21 must meet one of the following legislative criteria to be eligible to choose a non-traditional education program:

Performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age in a locally determined achievement test.
Is behind in satisfactorily completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation.
Is pregnant or is a parent.
Has been assessed as chemically dependent.
Has been excluded or expelled.
Has been referred by a school district for enrollment in an eligible program.
Is a victim of physical or sexual abuse.
Has experienced mental health problems.
Has experienced homelessness sometime within six months before requesting a transfer to an eligible program.
Speaks English as a second language or has limited English proficiency.
Has withdrawn from school or has been chronically truant.
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.

Enrollment Criteria

If interested in enrolling in the Options Alternative Learning Program at Edina High School, please schedule a meeting with your guidance counselor. A family meeting with the guidance counselor and the Options coordinator along with the development of a Continual Learning Plan (i.e., CLP) is a requirement for enrollment.

Once accepted, students must meet the following requirements for continual enrollment in the program:

Attend class daily
Follow behavior expectations outlined in the CLP
Make academic progress each week (Progress toward graduation is the foundational purpose of the program and is critical. If a student is not making regular progress toward graduation in the Options program, Options is not a good fit for them and we are obligated to assist the student in finding a program that works for them. In these circumstances, the Options coordinator and counselor will assist the student with finding a different program)

If the above criteria is not met, a student may be disenrolled from the program upon discretion of the Options Coordinator and Administration.

Schedule a meeting with your counselor