Building Supportive School Environments for Alternative Education Youth

Abstract

This article reports findings from a study of an alternative educational program for at-risk secondary students, comparing student perceptions of their public school environment, measured upon intake in the alternative school, with their perceptions of the alternative school environment after four and eight months of attendance in the program. Student perceptions of teacher support in the alternative school environment were significantly more positive than their perceptions of the public school environment. Another purpose was to assess the relation between student perceptions of various aspects of the school environment with specific academic, behavioral, and socioemotional variables. The implications of these findings and future research inquiries are addressed.

Keywords:

• academics
• adolescent
• alternative school
• behavior
• school environment
• socioemotional problems
• teacher support

Acknowledgements

The authors give special thanks to Eastern University graduate assistants, Barbara Bescher and Lauren Walker, for their valuable work on the research project.

Funding

This research was funded by an Eastern University Provost grant received in May 2008.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Edgar-Smith

Susan Edgar-Smith is an associate professor in the Counseling Psychology Department at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. Her major research interests are adolescent and family relationships, family values, and educational psychology.

Ruth Baugher Palmer

Ruth Baugher Palmer is a professor in the Counseling Psychology Department at Eastern University. Her major research interests include psychotherapy process and outcome research, counselor training, and the prevention and treatment of behavioral problems in adolescence.