NCJ Number
154075
Journal
American Teacher Volume: 79 Issue: 3 Dated: (November 1994) Pages: 10-11,18
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Many school districts across the country are setting up alternative schools to handle children who were disruptive, aggressive, and even violent in their previous school setting.
Abstract
The mission of these schools is to reassimilate the child into the mainstream classroom. Alternative schools, in their quest to meet the unique needs of each student, emphasize small class sizes and extensive support services, thereby raising the per-pupil cost of education. Teachers at these alternative schools strive to give at-risk children an option other than the street or more trouble. Many of the schools work closely with child protective services, social service agencies, the State's foster care agency, and the juvenile justice system. To be truly successful, alternatives schools must have a follow-up program to monitor progress made through short-term interventions. Some have developed liaison programs to foster communication between the alternative school and the next regular school the student will attend.