Alternative school (sometimes called a nontraditional school), is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular the United States) to describe an institution which provides part of alternative education. It is an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional.^[1] These schools have a special curriculum offering a more flexible program of study than a traditional school.^[2]

A wide range of philosophies and teaching methods are offered by alternative schools; some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientations, while others are more ad-hoc assemblies of teachers and students dissatisfied with some aspect of mainstream or traditional education.

[edit] United Kingdom

In the UK the term Alternative School refers to a school that provides a learner centred informal education as an alternative to the regimen of traditional education in the United Kingdom^[3]. There is a long tradition of such schools which includes Summerhill, the founder of which, A. S. Neill, greatly influenced the spread of such schools, Dartington, and Kilquhanity School^[4] and a range of schools based on the ideas of Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner^[5]

[edit] United States

In 1970, there were only a few alternative schools in operation in the United States.^[6] They originated to serve a growing population of students who were not experiencing success in the traditional schools. Today there are thousands, and the number continues to grow.^[7] The term "alternative" is now used to describe nearly every type of school imaginable, but many share certain distinguishing characteristics:

• Small size
• Close student-teacher relationship
• Student decision-making
• Diverse curriculum
• Peer guidance & Parental involvement

This type of school is intended to accommodate students who are considered at risk of failing academically (These students are referred as at-risk students), for one or more of any several reasons such as challenging behavior; or a school with special remedial programs for students with emotional disabilities.^[8] Alternative school is closely associated to a special school however it allows more flexibility.

[edit] At-risk students

The term can be used to describe a wide variety of students, including,

• academically disadvantaged
• disabled
• low socioeconomic status
• probationary students

[edit] Remediation

It is necessary to identify at-risk students as soon as possible. Once a student has been identified, remediation can begin. Examples of remediation include the following: remediation programs, tutoring, child care services, medical care, substance abuse awareness programs, bilingual instruction, employment training, and close follow up procedures on truancy and absenteeism^[9]. Schools also try to work with parents to help them learn ways to help their at-risk child.

Although it is necessary to identify at-risk students as soon as possible, the challenge of eliminating problems that are masked under the umbrella of "at-risk" and identifying the root cause is an enormous task. There are underlying problems such as poor vision or hearing that, if not identified early enough, creates an "academic snowball" effect and could potentially be the cause of academic struggles that a student presents. Once a student is identified as "at-risk," remediation should begin, but finding the right program is not always easily done.

The "at-risk" label is extremely broad, and broader still are the approaches to solving the problem(s). Many remediation programs have good intentions, but the intentions are muddled by trying to solve a myriad of problems with identical solutions. At times, students are lumped together in after school programs that serve as "babysitting" services, social gatherings, tutoring, remediation, and other programs designed to keep kids off the street. Even though the programs are touted as "remediation," programs, they are often not subject specific enough to make a real difference. A number of students that participate in "at-risk" programs are also receiving dual services in other programs specifically special education, or other government funded programs. The programs are designed to assist children, which are a noble cause, but because of the many facets to remediation, remediation as currently designed is not always measurable.

Finally, the government is now recognizing that a decline in federal financial support and higher standards have been having a negative impact on at-risk students. Therefore, intervention programs that support school districts who are struggling to help their at-risk students as well as incentives for school districts who successfully help their at-risk students have been established.

[edit] At Risk Programs

Title I is one of the largest federal program in K-12 education. funded at more than $26.4 billion in the 2008 school year.^{[citation needed]}

The Title I program sends money to school districts based on census counts of children from low-income families and children in several smaller categories, such as foster children, homeless children and those living in correctional institutions.

Most schools use the money to hire teachers, purchase supplies, and fund intervention programs to help the at-risk students^{[citation needed]}. Many^[quantify] schools use the Title I program as reading intervention for struggling students.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Continuation high school
• Democratic school
• Free school
• Gifted education
• Liberal arts college
• Special education
• Unschooling
• Virtual school

[edit] References

1. ^ http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/Alternative%2520school.html Definition of alternative school, accessed August 9, 2007. Archived 2009-10-31.
2. ^ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/alternative%20school Definition of alternative school, accessed August 9, 2007
3. ^ "alternative schooling"  A Dictionary of Education. Ed. Susan Wallace. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN 9780199212071
4. ^ Alternative school set to reopen BBC News 23 March 2009
5. ^ We’ll Fund Montessori And Steiner Schools, Say Tories Daily Express July 9, 2009
6. ^ Alternative Schools Adapt, by Fannie Weinstein. The New York Times, June 8, 1986, section A page 14.
7. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=N7zxYYpyLLcC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Alternative+schools Chapter 6, accessed August 5, 2009
8. ^ Changing Perspectives on Alternative Schooling for Children and Adolescents With Challenging Behavior, Robert A. Gable et al. Preventing School Failure, Fall 2006. Volume 51, Issue 1, page 5.
9. ^ Donnelly, Margarita(1987). At-Risk Students(ERIC Identifier: ED292172).ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management Eugene OR. Retrieved August 5, 2008, from http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-928/risk.htm

Sagor,R.(2004). At-Risk Students: Reaching and Teaching Them. Eye on Education, Inc.

[edit] External links

• Alternative school at the Open Directory Project

[edit] Further reading

• Claire V. Korn, Alternative American Schools: Ideals in Action (Ithaca: SUNY Press, 1991).