IALA

For 30 plus years Ombudsman Educational Services has contracted with local school districts to provide a complete accredited education for students that were not successful in their former schools. Ombudsman provides the whole program with a more personalized approach in three hours per day at about half the usual per-pupil state funded cost. Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois they serve students at 60 sites in 13 states and have graduated more than 100,000 students. Much of the program is self-paced on computers. It is impressive to see the engagement of students and the long-term dedicated teachers. The founders, Lori Sweeney and James Boyle, (deceased 2001) humanistic educators, developed an effective and efficient approach to serving at-risk students. You will learn much on seeing this program in operation. Their website contains much helpful information.