Providing a supportive alternative education environment for at-risk students

ABSTRACT

Many factors cause student disengagement from school that subsequently result in high dropout rates. Alternative education (AE) programs provide a different pathway for at-risk youths who do not meet the goals, standards, and requirements of traditional educational settings. However, educational agencies have vastly different interpretations regarding AE program components and operations. The absence of a consistent national protocol as to what components or criteria define an effective AE program causes confusion among practitioners and stakeholders. In the study being reported, a research-based multidimensional framework was established in the hope of building an operational AE program model.

KEYWORDS:

• Alternative education
• at risk
• dropout prevention
• effective practices
• student support

Notes on contributors

John J. McGee is a program principal at Fox Chapel Area High School. His current research interests include alternative education, at-risk students, educational equality, support programs, and high school students.

Fan-Yu Lin is an associate professor in the Department of Education at Robert Morris University. Her current research interests include behavior analysis, teacher training, and application of technology in education.