The Reference Desk, using available evidence and research, provides quick-turnaround responses to questions submitted by education stakeholders around the Northeast and Islands Region. Every Friday, REL-NEI highlights one or two questions submitted to its Reference Desk.
Question of the Week
What Does the Research Say About Alternative Schools?
The Reference Desk receives questions each month related to alternative pathways to education. This week’s Digest features a question on the general state of alternative schools in the United States. It provides information on the population of students being served by alternative schools and how these schools are structured. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Alternative schools and programs are designed to address the needs of students that typically cannot be met in regular schools. The students who attend alternative schools and programs are typically at risk of educational failure (as indicated by poor grades, truancy, disruptive behavior, pregnancy, or similar factors associated with temporary or permanent withdrawal from school)” (Carver, 2010; see below).
Question
What does the research say about the state of alternative schools?
Research Synthesis
Reference Desk researchers found that, “Findings from a recent national survey estimate that there were 10,900 public alternative schools and programs for at-risk students in the United States in 2000–2001 (Kleiner, Porch, & Farris, 2002). Results also indicated that about 12% of all students in alternative schools and programs for at-risk students were special education students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP), and the percentage of special education students varied widely between districts—ranging from 3% to 20% (typically students with learning or emotional/behavioral disabilities)” (Lehr, 2004b; see below).
Publicly Available Resources
- Alternative Schools and Programs for Public School Students At Risk of Educational Failure: 2007–08. 2010; Carver, R., Lewis, L., and Tice, P.; Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES 2010-026); 21 pages.
From the Introduction: “This report provides national estimates on the availability of alternative schools and programs for students at risk of educational failure in public school districts during the 2007–08 school year…. In addition to district-administered alternative schools and programs, alternative education for students at risk of educational failure could be provided through alternative schools and programs administered by entities other than the district…. Alternative schools and programs are designed to address the needs of students that typically cannot be met in regular schools. The students who attend alternative schools and programs are typically at risk of educational failure (as indicated by poor grades, truancy, disruptive behavior, pregnancy, or similar factors associated with temporary or permanent withdrawal from school)” (p. 1).
- Information Brief: Alternative Schools and Students With Disabilities: Identifying and Understanding the Issues. 2004b; Lehr, C.; Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, National Center on Secondary Education and Transition; Vol. 3, Issue 6.
From the section titled Background on Alternative Schools: “The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) reported 3,850 public alternative schools in the United States during the 1997–1998 academic year. Findings from a recent national survey estimate that there were 10,900 public alternative schools and programs for at-risk students in the United States in 2000–2001 (Kleiner, Porch, & Farris, 2002). Results also indicated that about 12% of all students in alternative schools and programs for at-risk students were special education students with Individualized Education Programs (IEP), and the percentage of special education students varied widely between districts—ranging from 3% to 20% (typically students with learning or emotional/behavioral disabilities). It is clear students with disabilities are attending alternative schools; yet, questions remain about the extent to which and how students with disabilities are being served in these settings.”
- Alternative Schools and Students with Disabilities: Current Status and Emerging Issues. 2004; Ahearn, E.; Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Directors of Special Education; 7 pages.
From the Introduction: “…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…. The U.S. Department of Education defines an alternative education school as ‘ …a public elementary/secondary school that addresses the needs of students which typically cannot be met in a regular school and provides nontraditional education which is not categorized solely as regular education, special education, vocational education, gifted and talented or magnet school programs (U.S. Department of Education, 2002, p. 55)’” (pp. 1–2).
The Reference Desk also found these resources and organizations to be helpful in learning more about alternative schools in general:
- Alternative Schools: Research on Policy, Practice and Implications for Youth
From the home page: “This three-year project gathered and synthesized information about the policies and practices of alternative schools across the nation, especially in relation to students with disabilities. It is one of three studies (focused on alternative schools and students with disabilities) funded in October 2001 by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.” The Publications section includes a list of alternative-schools project publications.
- Alternative Education Websites from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
This section of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website provides links to other organizations with resources on the topic of alternative education.
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