This page is for students that have chosen the Distance Learning Only model.

Welcome Letter

Relationships & Connectedness
Establishing and maintaining relationships with our students, families, and staff members is very important during this historic global event. We will need to work with each other and stay connected to be successful in this new Distance Learning Academy educational environment. We also need to stay connected so we can support the social-emotional, academic, and mental health of our students and our staff members.   

Access & Support for Everyone
Our students, families, and staff members will need to have equitable access to technology and the internet for the Distance Learning Academy. Along with access comes the appropriate level of support for all engaged with this model. We will look to provide the learning support necessary to both meet the needs of our students and to provide an educational option where students can all succeed. We will endeavor to create the best supported environment we can for the students and staff members in our Distance Learning Academy.

Quality & Fidelity
Several members of the high-quality Albert Lea Area Schools instructional staff will be teaching the participants in the Distance Learning Academy. They will be using a common set of curriculum guides, partnered with peer discussions across learning models, to provide our district curriculum with fidelity. We are looking to provide the highest quality experience we can in this new educational model.

Understanding & Continuous Improvement
The Distance Learning Academy is a new model of education both for our teachers and our students. While we were introduced to a variant of distance learning last Spring, this model will be different from what some experienced. This blended model of interactive video classroom lessons and online work completion requires engagement and collaboration to be successful. Knowing that some things will not go as planned, and some unforeseen things will come up, are all part of the new learning experience. Know that we will be monitoring the experience with the families at home, our staff at the school, and internally to continuously improve the experience provided in this learning model.

Classroom Engagement: While the Distance Learning Academy is a flexible model of learning, students are expected to attend all scheduled virtual class meetings and to complete all assigned online assignments. If your family has circumstances that warrant additional flexibility, please contact your student’s teacher to make arrangements. If your students will be absent from a virtual class session, please contact the DLA Office and/or teacher in advance. Attendance will be monitored, and reported, daily.  If your family has any barriers preventing your student from engaging in their classes, please reach out to us so we can assist in finding a solution.

Grading: All students will receive grades similar to their in-school and hybrid model counterparts. At the high school level, acceptance of late work will be limited to the previous unit/two week period of time as appropriate for the class.

Student Support Services:  Albert Lea Area School students will all receive the appropriate services and support to help them be successful in the Distance Learning Academy.  These support services include Special Education for Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) and English Language Learner (EL) support. All students will have access to the general education curriculum, school counselors, and the school social workers. 

Technology/Internet:  Students in grades K-2 will be issued a school iPad and students in grades 3-12 will be issued a school Chromebook. Accidental damage insurance for these devices is available for $23 for the school year.  Families must have their device checked in at our Brookside Technology Help Desk before enrolling in the insurance program.  Students/Families who do not have access to the internet may also ask about receiving a district Hot Spot to provide the necessary access for learning.