Alternative Program Information

Curriculum, Instruction, Culture, and Focus of the program

• Mastery-based-Addition of Exemplary Progress and Adequate Progress

• Customized Student-Centered Learning

• Frameworks for Learning that center instruction on state standards

• Flexible learning schedules and time-frames for completing work

• Student mentors for each student who help student create a learning pathway to meet student needs.

• Homebase for each student 

• Prioritize MTSS review

Instruction

Special instruction courses for at-risk youth enrolled in an alternative program will include:

1. A physical fitness/personal health component; All alternative students will have PE or Lifetime Fitness as part of the program (elective credits).

2. Career and technical education component approved by the state division of career and technical education; All alternative students will have College and Career Exploration as one of their electives.

3.  A personal finance, parenting, and child care component; and

4.  A personal and career counseling component. All alternative students will have as part of their monthly meeting with the counselor a discussion about their career exploration journey.

Special Services

Special services, where appropriate for at-risk youth enrolled in alternative secondary programs, include the following where appropriate:

1. A day care center when enrollees are also parents. This center should be staffed by a qualified child care provider. All alternative students will have access to an additional $500 dollars in their learning budget to be used for daycare services.

2. Direct social services that may include officers of the court, social workers, counselors/ psychologists. Our students have access to our counselor (see the monthly meeting with the counselor) and the district psychologist.

FAQ

How is what you are providing at the alternative different from what is being provided at the regular high school? 

1. Required twice monthly (Or more if necessary) check in with mentor 

2. Monthly check in with counselor

3. Weekly Homebase meeting with mentor and group of peers (required). Enrolled in Homebase (which is optional for the main program).

How is it specifically designed to meet the needs of the at-risk students? 

These meetings/check ins provide additional support for students on their journey toward meeting the credit requirements

1. Mentors serve as the hub for student success. The goal is to build a meaningful relationship with a caring adult to facilitate academic success, check on progress toward completion, and check in emotionally on student.

2. Providing a minimum of monthly check in with a counselor, provides a safe, regular social emotional connection with a caring adult.

3. While we provide Homebase for students who are new to SROHS, it is optional for students outside their second year in our program. Students in the alternative program will remain in Homebase throughout their enrollment.

How will all of the unique requirement of the alternative school be provided?

• The size of our school doesn't really fund a counselor. To better support students in our environment and in our alternative program, we have hired a counselor.

• To support our college and career emphasis for alternative students, we have hired a full-time teacher support our experience based and career education. We are working with her to get the proper endorsements to get the CTE Occupational Specialist.

With the things that are being done related to the graduation rate, which are district initiatives, which are school level.

• All the supports we have identified are specifically for our school.

It appears that you don’t have a traditional class schedule so what does a typical day look like for the students?

• In our Mastery Model, students determine their own schedule. However we provide planning components in our orientation.