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Foreword
Introduction
Benefits of
Alternative Schools
Characteristics
Who, Where, How?
Challenges
Tips for
Implementation
Trends
Conclusion
The Northwest
Sampler
References
About This Issue
Previous Issues
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Tips for Implementation
The following list details practical recommendations for establishing an alternative school or maintaining an existing one (DeBlois, 1994; Dugger & DesMoulin-Kherat, 1996; Harrington-Lueker, 1994) :
- Define school goals. Ideally, what will students accomplish? Some common goals for students include:
- Master basic academic skills
- Catch up on credits
- Obtain a GED
- Graduate from high school
- Re-enter a mainstream school
- Acquire employability skills
- Learn job skills
- Start on a career path
- Stay drug and alcohol free
- Become involved in the community
- Establish specific enrollment criteria. Alternative schools typically require that students face one or more of the following obstacles to learning in a traditional setting:
- Behind in credits
- Behind in grade level
- Pregnant or parenting
- Dropped out of school
- Suspended for truancy
- Working hours not conducive to regular public school attendance
- Unable to function in a traditional school environment because of behavioral or other emotional difficulties
Like other schools, alternative schools usually have certain age and grade ranges outside of which they will not accept students. In addition, having a history of violence may disqualify a student from entry.
- Establish specific entry procedures. These may include the following:
- Obtain referrals and recommendations from family members and the counselor or principal of the student's former school. Sometimes students self-refer.
- Assess the student for drug and alcohol use
- Interview the student and sometimes family members to determine the student's willingness to work hard and abide by school policies
- Test the student to determine academic level and other characteristics
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Hire staff who are committed to working with the specific group of students being served. Training in areas such as experiential education, adult education, behavior management, and special needs is useful for alternative school teachers. It is important to involve staff and students in the hiring process.
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Select an appropriate location. If the goal of the program is to have students re-enter a mainstream institution, then being located in or near that school can be advantageous. On the other hand, a separate location may help the school establish its own culture and identity. Students who dislike school may feel more comfortable in a nontraditional setting such as a mall, a farmhouse, or an office building. Being near businesses and community organizations will be convenient for schools with a school-to-work or community service emphasis. The cost of the building and availability of funds will also be an issue in deciding location.
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If the school district is too small or lacks the financial resources to support an alternative school, look into participating in a regional program run by an education service district.
- When possible, involve parents and family, particularly at the middle school level, through letters home, parenting classes, student-led parent conferences, and other parent involvement strategies. In some schools, the majority of the students may be living independently of their parents.
- Connect with businesses and community groups for funds, involvement, and career-related opportunities. They can take the following kinds of actions to support the school:
- Donate cash
- Donate in-kind goods and services--everything from baby clothes to computers to transportation for field trips
- Serve on an advisory board
- Tutor students
- Speak to students about careers
- Demonstrate trades and skills
- Offer job shadowing, internship, apprenticeship, and career exploration opportunities
- Document and publicize your results through statistics, anecdotes, and personal testimony from students and parents. The more support the school has from the outside community, the better off it will be. Make the community aware of the following kinds of information about your school:
- Graduation rate and number of graduates
- Percent and number of graduates employed
- Percent and number of graduates going on to further education and training
- Average salary several years after graduation
- Community projects students have participated in
- Positive changes students have made in their lives
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