Assistance
Plus program
Plus helps students graduate high school, earn a GED, prepare for and attend college, plan for a career, and get employment training.
Students can enroll for Plus if they already get help from a county program including foster care, juvenile program, truancy interventions, or if they are pregnant or parenting.
Once enrolled, a case coordinator works with the student and serves as a liaison between the student’s school, county workers, community-based service providers, and family, to recognize and resolve barriers to the student’s success.
Sites
Brooklyn Center Early College Academy
5910 Shingle Creek Parkway, Suite IA, Minneapolis, MN 55430
About
- Early College Academy website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
Choice Alternative High School
8800 Queen Avenue South, Suite 219, Bloomington, MN 55431
About
- Choice school website
- Grades 10–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
El Colegio Charter School
4137 Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407
About
- El Colegio website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
Loring Nicollet Alternative School
1925 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
About
- Loring school website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
MCTC
MCTC
1501 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
MCTC map
Minneapolis Employment Readiness Curriculum Alternative School (MERC)
2539 Pleasant Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
About
- MERC website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
North Education Center – ISD 287
5530 Zealand Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55428
About
- ISD 287 website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
Plymouth Youth Center Arts and Technology High School
2210 Oliver Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
About
- PYC website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
South Education Center – ISD 287
7450 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, MN 55423
About
- South Education Center website
- Grades 9–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
Volunteers of America (VOA) High School
924 – 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
About
- VOA website
- Grades 10–12
Programming
- Career / college prep
- Early / middle college pathway
- Work-based learning
- Individualized or project-based learning
- Therapist on site
Pick a school
Requesting a school
There are several Plus sites throughout Hennepin County, see Sites listed above. Requests for a specific school should be made during the referral process or by contacting the Program Manager at 612-872-3630. Efforts will be made to accommodate requests but will be based on school availability.
If there is a not a request for a school, please review the school sites above and contact the Plus Program Manager to learn more about the different sites and plan a site visit to schools of interest. Transportation and School Site location should be considered when selecting a school.
How to refer
Eligibility for Plus
All students must meet state criteria to be able to choose a non-traditional educational program — for example, alternative learning centers.
Must receive Hennepin County services through one of the following programs:
- Supervision under juvenile corrections
- be@school program with an assigned truancy worker – youth assigned a contracted mental health case worker instead of a be@school case worker are eligible for an exception and may be eligible for Plus services
- Child protection with an assigned case manager
- Mental health program with an assigned case manager
- Child welfare with an assigned case manager
- MVNA for pregnant and parenting teens with an assigned case manager
- Homeless and flagged as HHM by their school district
How to refer a student to Plus
Hennepin County staff
This includes operated case managers, MVNA nurses, Plus case coordinators, and be@school workers.
- Complete the Plus program referral form (DOCX). If you have questions or are not sure the student meets eligibility requirements, you can call the Plus program at 612-872-3630 for a consultation.
- Send an email with the completed referral form to trent.saari@ppl-inc.org.
Probation officers
Please send a completed PIF (personal information form) to trent.saari@ppl-inc.org.
Community agencies and parents
Contact the Plus manager at 612-872-3630 or trent.saari@ppl-inc.org to discuss eligibility.
What happens after you make a referral
Step 1: The Plus manager will determine if the student is eligible for Plus.
Step 2:
- If the student is not eligible, Plus staff will contact you to discuss options.
- If the student is eligible, Plus staff will meet with the student and their parent or guardian to sign release of info (ROI) and to coordinate appropriate supportive services.
Step 3: County staff (case manager, MVNA nurse, Plus case coordinator, and be@school worker) takes part in the enrollment process into the Plus program.
Step 4: The student begins attending school as soon as appropriate for both school and student.
About the program
Plus support can include
- Goal setting and coaching
- College and career navigation
- Assistance to improve school attendance and academic progress
- Mental and chemical health services
Schools/programs offer
- Credit recovery
- Curriculum to fill educational gaps
- Transportation
Each Plus school program offers a different approach to learning. We can work with you to find the best fit for your interests and passions.
Case coordinator
All Plus students receive a case coordinator when enrolled in the program. The case coordinator works closely with each student by monitoring their attendance, academic achievements, and employment and training needs. The case coordinator also serves as a liaison between school staff, county workers, community-based service providers, and families in an effort to resolve any barriers that prevent the student’s success in completing school and investing in their future.