Education Program
Alternative Education: Research and Reports
Alternative Schools and Students with Disabilities: Current Status and Emerging Issues (2004)
National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
"Alternative schools are increasing in number across the United States. Though they have existed within the educational landscape for several decades, there are still few research findings that can document their effectiveness or pinpoint the actual number of students being served through these schools and programs. There are even fewer studies that reference the experiences of students with disabilities within these educational settings."
Alternative Schools and Students with Disabilities: Perceptions of State Directors of Special Education (2004)
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
"Understanding the role of alternative schools in providing educational opportunities for youth with disabilities has become increasingly important over the past few years. Significant numbers of youth with disabilities are not completing school and the extent to which alternative education may offer an option that engages students, provides a more successful school experience and improves the likelihood of graduation has been largely unexamined. In 2001, the University of Minnesota received a grant from the U. S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs to conduct research on alternative schools across the country. Special emphasis was given to studying how and the extent to which students with disabilities are being served within these settings. The purpose of this information brief is to share responses of state directors of special education to a telephone interview about major issues regarding students with disabilities and alternative schools in their state. State directors of special education are in a unique position to provide their perspective in light of expertise and experience with state policy, responsibility for oversight and knowledge of broader issues for students with disabilities. In all, responses were obtained from state directors of special education or their designees in 48 states and the District of Columbia yielding a 96 percent response rate."
Alternative Schooling (2004)
The National Center for Dropout Prevention
"Alternative education or alternative schools are not really a new concept to the American scene. As early as colonial America, we saw education in a variety of ways conducted by the wealthy or offered to the general population by the wealthy or by religious groups. The two varieties consist of educational opportunities 'outside the system' and those 'inside the system.' Among the types of alternative school opportunities outside the system are the elite and costly private schools, the schools with a religious orientation, and the recently revived home schools. Those located inside the system generally serve a special population, such as students with unique learning interests or disabilities, teenage parents, potential dropouts, violent individuals, or court-adjudicated youths and those in juvenile detention systems."
Alternative Schools: Policy and Legislation Across the United States (2003)
The College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota
"Alternative schools have emerged over the years as one educational option for students who are not successful in traditional school settings. The number of these schools is growing rapidly, yet we know very little about similarities in policy and practice across states. This report provides a list and review of current state legislation and policy from 48 states that have some type of legislation addressing alternative schools or programs. Information is organized and discussed with regard to enrollment criteria, alternative school definition, funding, curriculum, staffing and students with disabilities. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to historical context and current forces shaping alternative schools today."
Towards a Typology of Alternative Education Programs: A Compilation of Elements from the Literature (2003)
The Urban Institute
“The purpose of this paper is to synthesize existing knowledge, definitions and themes about alternative education programs, based on a review of literature and reports. It is intended that this knowledge can serve as a starting point for establishing common terminologies to characterize the various kinds of alternative education programs, and to develop a basic typology—that is a classification of the various kinds of alternative education based on certain common characteristics.“
Public Alternative Schools and Programs for Students At Risk of Education Failure: 2000-01 (2002)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
"The 2001 'District Survey of Alternative Schools and Programs, conducted by NCES through its Fast Response Survey System (FRSS), is the first national study of public alternative schools and programs to provide data on topics related to the availability of public alternative schools and programs, enrollment, staffing and services. The focus of the study is on alternative schools and programs that serve students who are at risk of educational failure, as indicated by poor grades, truancy, disruptive behavior, suspension, pregnancy or similar factors associated with early withdrawal from school. The study presents a snapshot of alternative schools and programs for at-risk students during the 2000-01 school year."
Opportunities Suspended: The Devastating Consequences of Zero Tolerance and School Discipline Policies (2000)
Harvard Civil Rights Project
"In the aftermath of a number of high profile, extremely violent incidents at public schools, many state and local education entities have adopted the same harsh and mandatory "take-no-prisoners" approach to discipline currently being used in this country’s criminal justice system. Opportunities Suspended: The Devastating Consequences of Zero Tolerance and School Discipline is the culmination of the shared efforts of The Civil Rights Project (CRP) at Harvard University and the Advancement Project (AP). By consulting with attorneys, psychiatrists, academians, educators and children’s advocates, CRP and AP embarked upon a multi-disciplined approach to review this subject matter. This is the first comprehensive national report to scrutinize the impact that the brutally strict zero tolerance approach to discipline, currently being used in public schools, is having on American children. The report illustrates that zero tolerance is unfair, is contrary to the developmental needs of children, denies children educational opportunities, and often results in the criminalization of children."
Alternative Education: From a "Last Chance" to a Proactive Model (1999)
National Center on Education, Disability and Juvenile Justice (EDJJ)
"In response to higher expectations and standards, many school districts have developed alternative education programs for students whose behaviors disrupt the learning of others and otherwise interfere with the order of the school environment. Often these alternative education settings are punitive responses or 'last chance' options for youth."
Alternative Schools for Disruptive Students (1999)
Education Commission of the States (ECS)
Alternative Education Programs for Expelled Students (1996)
U.S. Department of Education
"School districts across the country report experiencing significant increases in both the number of students expelled and the length of time they are excluded from their schools. The consensus among educators and others concerned with at-risk youth is that it is vital for expelled students to receive educational counseling or other services to help modify their behavior and possibly other support services while they are away from their regular school. Without such services, students generally return to school no better disciplined and no better able to manage their anger or peaceably resolve disputes. They will also have fallen behind in their education, and any underlying causes of their violent behavior may be unresolved. Research has shown a link between suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school, with resulting personal and social costs."
Alternative Education: What Does it Mean and What Does it Look Like?
Regional Education Alternative Learning (REAL)
"This paper examines what alternative education is, what types or classifications describe alternative education programs and what are the characteristics of effective alternative education programs."
Quality Alternative Placements for Suspended or Expelled Students: "Lessons Learned"
Center for the Prevention of School Violence
"Concerns about the safety and order found behind schoolhouse doors have prompted educators to increasingly turn to zero-tolerance policies which target a variety of inappropriate behaviors and mandate specific consequences or punishments when such behaviors occur. Out-of-school suspensions for extended periods of time or expulsions from school entirely oftentimes form the types of consequences or punishments which occur. Removing students who are responsible for disrupting school environments is believed to enhance the conduciveness for learning found in these environments for the remaining students. The question which arises from employing this approach concerns what happens to the students who are suspended or expelled."
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