The Dakota Alternative for Severely Handicapped or DASH provides services for students ages 3 through 21.  Most students have developmental cognitive disabilities (DCD) in the severe to profound range.  Others have multiple disabling conditions and require regular nursing care.  Students focus on communication, social skills, daily living skills, recreation and leisure skills, community participation and vocational training.  Related services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education and speech/language services are offered.  Students also utilize assistive technology to support their goals.  Emphasis is placed on working together with a variety of agencies and providers to assist students to reach their fullest potential.  There are eight sites for DASH programming including Burnsville High School in Burnsville, Christa McAuliffe Elementary, Hastings Middle School and Hastings High School in Hastings, Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights, Pine Bend Elementary in Inver Grove Heights and Lakeville North High School in Lakeville.

Special education services are provided to students enrolled in the Dakota Alternative Learning School (DCALS) as determined by students’ individualized education plans.

Resource programs are provided for students that are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) through Intermediate School District 917.  Students who attend a resource program receive a significant portion of the academic instruction from a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing in a self-contained classroom.  The languages of instruction used include American Sign Language and English via cued English.  Students are included in general education classes as appropriate.  Support services including speech and language therapy, audiology and interpreting/transliterating are available as needed.  Resource programs are currently located at Gideon Pond Elementary in Burnsville and Century Middle School in Lakeville.

The Intra Dakota Education Alternative (IDEA) is a program that focuses on the development of appropriate skills that will allow students to function successfully in the general education setting.  Students served in this program most often are students with Emotional Behavior Disorders (EBD).  The program also serves a number of students with Other Health Disabilities (OHD).  Programming is offered in a number of locations.  Alliance Education Center is Rosemount currently has seven classrooms dedicated to the IDEA program.  There are also programs at Pine Bend Elementary in Inver Grove Heights, McGuire Middle School and Lakeville North High School in Lakeville, Farmington and Apple Valley.

Intermediate School District 917 delivers educational services at the Juvenile Service Center (JSC) in Hastings through an agreement with Hastings Public Schools and Dakota County.  Programming is offered for New Chance as well as Riverside.

For students with severe disorders of communication and behavior including students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and those with Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD) in the severe profound range, PACES or the Program Alternative for Communication, Education and Socialization is offered.  The program features a highly structured environment, with a low student/staff ratio.  Opportunities for social interaction and community participation are integral components of the PACES program.  The curriculum emphasizes the development of functional skills and academics, including:  language and communication, social skills, adaptive behavior, daily living/life skills, inclusion opportunities, leisure/recreation, and vocational skills. The primary objective of the program is to help students develop the ability to interact appropriately with others and to function as independently as possible.  PACES programming is located at three sites:  Akin Road Elementary and Boeckman Middle School in Farmington and at East Valley Plaza in Apple Valley.

Students in the SUN – Students with Unique Needs program fall into a variety of disability categories including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD) and Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD).  Programming is focused on a small staff to student ratio.  This program offers students the opportunity to work on academics as well as functional, transition and social skills.  Additionally students participating in SUN Works gain valuable work experience.  The SUN program also works in cooperation with various public and private agencies to meet students’ individual needs.  Programming is located at Alliance Education Center in Rosemount, Nicollet Jr. High in Burnsville and also in a more individualized setting at our satellite location in Apple Valley.

The Therapeutic Education Alternative (TEA) program provides therapeutic interventions by specially trained professionals for students in grades 5-8 to enable students to more successfully access their educational opportunities.  Classrooms are located at Friendly Hills Middle School in Mendota Heights.

The TESA or Transitional Education Service Alternative program provides special education services for students ages 14-21, with an emphasis on functional academics and transition skills. Students served in this program include students with Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD) as well as those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  The purpose of the program is to provide instruction, guidance and opportunities for students to achieve maximum levels of independence, and to help students acquire a sense of confidence in daily life situations (home, school, community, and work environments).  TESA Programs are located at Dakota County Technical College and Lakeville High School North in Lakeville.  Additionally, TESA Works, a storefront providing actual retail experience for students is located in Apple Valley.

At West Heights Alternative Learning Center (WHALC) special education services are provided to students enrolled in WHALC as determined by students’ individualized education plans.

Intermediate School District 917 delivers educational services at the Youth Transition Program (YTP) in Burnsville.