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Define Alternative Education

Differences in admissions criteria, program components, staff, lengths of student involvement, parental and community collaboration, and expected outcomes make defining alternative learning programs difficult.

Every program is unique to the community, to the school and students it is designed to serve.

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IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND �AE is an Intervention

��AE is a PROGRAM - NOT a PLACE. Students enter until referral concerns have improved. AE is NOT a punishment, but a positive program for students, to meet them where they are.

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Consensus: �Meet the needs of at-risk youth

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Positive Perspectives / Compliance

Prior interventions
“Student assessment either before or upon entry into the ALE class or school”
“Intervention service designed to address the student’s behavioral problems…such intervention services shall not be punitive in nature but must be designed for long-term improvement of the student’s ability to control his or her behavior.”

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Participation Promotes Success

Graduation Activities, lunch, recess, school electives, clubs, field trips…. “substantially similar” expectations
Inclusion = Importance
Perception becomes Personal Reality

Define what is “Known”
Detect mistakes, fix errors

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�Referral & Placement:�HAVE A PLAN/PROCEDURE

Referral
Conference

Review Prior Interventions
Review Documented Criteria for entrance into AE program
DESE OAE website (Important Documents)
Foundation of the Student Action Plan*

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TEAM

AE Teacher/Director
Sending School Administrator
Parent
Regular Classroom Teacher of the Student
Sending School Counselor
Student

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Prior Interventions

Answer the questions:

“What has been attempted?”
“What was successful?”
“What was unsuccessful, and why?”
“Have we tried creative means within Tier 1 and Tier 2?”
“Have you considered the environment?”

Disciplinary actions are NOT interventions.

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�Criteria for Placement:�Relative to program goals and objectives

SNFR 4.02 - ALE Student Eligibility and Placement

NOTE: “Student will not be placed in AE based on academic problems alone.”
AE is not Credit Recovery, but Credit Recovery can be an element of alternative education.

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Who is an AE Student? Students At-Risk�

Students shall exhibit two or more of the following identified characteristics:
Situations that negatively affect the student’s academic and social progress may include, but are not limited to:
Ongoing, persistent lack of attaining proficiency levels in literacy and mathematics;
Abuse: physical, mental, or sexual;
Frequent relocation of residency;
Homelessness;
Inadequate emotional support;
Mental/physical health problems;
Pregnancy; or
Student is a single parent.

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AE Student Considerations:

4.02.1.2 Students placed at risk, though intelligent and capable, typically manifest one or more of the following characteristics:

Personal or family problems or situations;

Recurring absenteeism;

Dropping out from school; or

Disruptive behavior.

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Things to Consider

Parents and Student Participation/Voice
Course of Action / Plan for Intervention
College and Career Readiness
Progress Monitoring of SAP
Privilege, not punishment for student

Do what is best for the student !

Placement concerns and remediation expectations
Substantially similar sub-populations
Hardest to Reach = 2% - 3% of population

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SAP – Student Action Plans

Current Levels of Functioning*
Long and Short-term Academic Goals
Long and Short-term Behavior Interventions/Goals
Assessment Reviews
Documentation of the specific AE

programming and supports that

will address each identified

characteristic or situation causing

a barrier to student success

NEW

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Assessing for Current Level of Functioning

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Too often educators focus solely on academics and/or behavior.

Why is each of these five areas important?

Social

Emotional

Academic

Career

Behavior

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Students in alternative education have highly individualized needs, so we must make sure that our assessments of those needs are thorough and well-documented.

If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen...well...one.

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No builder begins construction without first developing a detailed blueprint. The better your document, the better your plan. The better your plan, the more likely the student achieves success.

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�Contact Information

Jared Hogue, Director

DESE Office of Alternative Education

1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 425

Little Rock, AR 72201

E-mail: Jared.Hogue@ade.arkansas.gov

Phone: 501-324-9660

Dr. C.W. Gardenhire, Program Advisor

DESE Office of Alternative Education

ASU - Beebe

England Center, Room 106

P.O. Box 1000

Beebe, AR 72012

E-mail: cw.gardenhire@ade.arkansas.gov

Phone: 501-882-4498

Cell: 501-580-5660

Lisa Johnson, Program Advisor

DESE Office of Alternative Education

1401 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 425

Little Rock, AR 72201

E-mail: Lisa.Johnson@ade.arkansas.gov

Phone: 501-580-2775