A variety of alternative programs are being implemented in Canada and the United States for students who have exhibited conduct problems and who are suspended or expelled from their schools. Given the complexity of issues that these students frequently face, treatment must be multifaceted, wrap-around, delivered by trained professionals and be…

This study examined the probability of (a) being placed in a disciplinary alternative education setting for mandatory versus discretionary reasons and (b) returning within the same year among an ethnically diverse sample (African American, Caucasian, Hispanic) of middle and high school students (N=270). Participants were compared based on…

In the United States, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) mandates functional assessment based behavioral support plans for all students with disabilities who display challenging behavior. However, very few studies have been undertaken to examine the effectiveness of the functional assessment-based behavioral plans with high…

Mrs. Donohue, a middle school teacher of students with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD), emphasizes that her job is extremely challenging. Her biggest issue is lack of administrative support. Mr. Clark, a teacher for students with EBD at an alternative school, had similar experiences with administrators in the past. He says, "The current…

One approach to student behavior that may be particularly useful in exclusionary settings is school-wide positive behavior supports (PBS). Increasingly, evidence shows that PBS is an effective approach to student behavior in regular public schools (Sugai & Horner, 2005). While the data on behavioral systems in exclusionary schools are…

In 1995, Texas adopted the Safe Schools Act, designed to allow disruptive students' removal from class, while ensuring a safety net for students who otherwise might evolve into undereducated criminals. Participating staff report successes with individual students who function better in the disciplined environment of an alternative educational…

Many school districts have set up alternative learning centers to provide programs for students whose behavior problems keep them from functioning effectively in a traditional school program. A recent study of seven alternative middle school programs attributes program success to teacher effectiveness, focus on student learning, and smaller class…

The report presents data on the effectiveness of Program Alternatives to Special Education (PASE), an effort to reduce the number of students referred to special education in New York City schools. Four major evaluation issues are addressed: number of students participating in PASE during the 1985-1986 school year; reasons for student selections…

Using ethnographic techniques, this article explores the complex interaction of control and caring in two alternative education programs for students resisting traditional schooling in Cincinnati (Ohio) Public Schools, a predominantly low-income, African-American urban school district. A community-based orientation for staff proves essential in…

The opening of a new alternative school in a suburb of a small midwestern city in 1995 provided the opportunity to elicit student perceptions of their past and current school environments. Students were asked at two different times to complete three short scales that characterized teacher, counselor and administrative responsiveness to them: the…

In 1996, North Carolina began a 5-year evaluation of Alternative Learning Programs (ALPs). This report describes selected outcomes for students who participated in ALPs during 1995-96. These outcomes include performance on North Carolina End-of-Grade tests (elementary school) and performance on the End-of-Course(EOC) tests (high school) for…

This article deals with human desperation at its worst--the desperation of children who, through no fault of their own, live lives few of us can imagine. They are child prostitutes. The impetus for this article came through the senior author's work with the Office of Disaster Prevention and Preparedness and Labor and Social Affairs (DPP-LSA) in…

In 1996, North Carolina began a 5-year evaluation of alternative learning programs (ALPs). This report contains in-depth case studies of four ALPs during the 1996-97 school year. The ALPs were selected to represent different types of programs in the state, and include one middle school, two high school, and one elementary school programs. The case…

The authors examine the potential and the limitations of alternative schools for disruptive students by discussing positive features, such as small student-teacher ratio and enhancement of self-concept, and negative aspects, such as the tendency toward racial isolation and possible use as a tool for social control. (SK)

The Substance Use Prevention Education and Resources (SUPER I) program of the Austin Independent School District (Texas) is a school-based middle- and high-school curriculum that is offered as a positive alternative to long-term removals to students who have committed alcohol or drug-related offenses for the first time (excluding the sale or…