This policy analysis project is designed at uncovering specific standards that can be utilized by a school district in developing and evaluating their Type II Alternative Schools to ensure high levels of student success within their programs. While there is a substantive body of research in alternative education, there are no universally accepted…

Alternative high schools have an important place in our educational system, since exellence in education must mean more than improving the abilities of those who are succeeding in our present school environment. A list of suggestions (nine "dos" and four "don'ts") are offered for consideration before establishing such a school. (MCG)

High school students with disabilities who drop out are costly to society. Compared to those who graduate, they are more likely to be unemployed, dependent on public services, and involved in the criminal justice system. Consequently, helping students with disabilities graduate has become a prominent national concern. Students with disabilities…

This practicum reports on the conceptualization, development, testing, and implementation of the guidelines, procedures, and a model for alternative programs for earning graduation credit. New requirements for graduation were adopted by the Maryland State Department of Education in November, 1974, but the development of specific policies and…

Describes Foxfire, a philosophy of education firmly grounded in principles of democratic, experiential education. Discusses how many who attempted to adopt the approach of the Foxfire books without its founding principles obtained traditional, teacher-oriented results. Describes Foxfire's educational practices and major aspects of the staff's work…

Accounts, in part, for the successful implementation of an alternative "school-without-walls" and provides clues to what program administrators can do to make it more likely that new programs will get fair trials in the schools. (Author/IRT)

Author discusses the four components of planning: need, interest, organization, and accountability as they relate to an alternative school. (Editor)

City-as-School (CAS) is an alternative high school linking students to various out-of-school learning experiences throughout New York City. In 1985, the CAS was awarded a National Diffusion Network (NDN) four-year replication grant, given to exemplary programs to enable them to disseminate their model to other interested schools and districts…

The Texas Governor's Honors Program recognizes outstanding high potential and achievement in gifted high school juniors, and provides in-depth instruction in interdisciplinary content areas with an emphasis on leadership in a multicultural society. This article describes program goals, student selection, curriculum, and program impact. (JDD)

In spite of a widespread commitment to the comprehensive high school, the nation has long had specialty or theme schools and schools that target particular children. Magnet schools, alternative schools, and Catholic schools illustrate that the idea of specialized schools is not new. Recently, the concept has received a boost from a study by the…

This article describes New Jersey's four Governor's Schools for gifted students in the sciences, public issues and the future, the environment, and the arts. The descriptions focus on program purposes, curriculum, faculty and staff, student recruitment and selection procedures, and program impact based on research with alumni. (JDD)

Outlines what school administrators can do to increase their understanding of local dropout programs and to decrease dropping out. Suggestions include analyzing local data, instituting early tracking of potential at-risk students, creating alternative programs, reorganizing to improve school climate, and initiating new forms of student assessment.…

West Fargo Community High School (North Dakota) was established in 1982 to provide alternative secondary education to high school dropouts and students who would be unable to function successfully in the traditional high school setting. The school was set up to be a self-supporting institution staffed by three part-time instructors and one…

This report contains research findings on student achievement and retention at New York City alternative high schools serving dropouts and potential dropouts. After a summary and introduction, statistics are presented which reveal that alternative schools facilitate positive changes in student performance. Next, reasons for students' dropping out…

The major purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics, problems, and recommendations for developing and improving open-entry/open-exit systems of individualized, competency-based vocational instruction for Florida high school students. A survey instrument was developed to collect relevant data. Those surveyed in the descriptive…