IALA » At risk programs

Australia Choices Study

Wayne Jennings — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:46:25 +0000

Learning Choices: A Map for the Future, a comprehensive national report, describes the existing education choices in Australia for secondary age youth. It pulls together existing research and evidence, summarizes data and findings, identifies gaps in knowledge and offers recommendations. The report includes a valuable resource of other research on Australian alternative education. This is a readable report with useful data and descriptions.

Linda Darling-Hammond on Choice

admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:29:15 +0000

In her new book The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future (Multicultural Education) Linda Darling-Hammond share her views on how schools can be improved for all students from all backgrounds. She poignantly describes what the United States needs to do in order to build a stronger, more equitable educational system. Recently she appeared via audio cast on Elluminate talking about both The Flat World and Education, as well as, The Right to Learn. http://audio.edtechlive.com/foe/lindadarlinghammond.mp3

Alternative Education Course

Wayne Jennings — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 03:23:27 +0000

Here is an opportunity for anyone interested in 3 semester hours of graduate credit on the topic of alternative education from an expert. For about a decade Roy Weaver served as editor of Changing Schools (national journal of alternative education for 20 years) and organized alternative education conferences during the late 1970s and 1980s. The course is offered entirely online and will run from June 21 to July 23. The course will cover the broad range of alternatives, including free schools, open schools, schools-within-schools, schools-without-walls, magnet schools, charter schools, home schools, and virtual schools. For more information: Dr. Roy Weaver, Professor of Curriculum at Ball State University rweaver@bsu.edu cell: 765.744.0913. Course Information: http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/Distance/Academics/CourseInfo/Schedule/Summer2010Schedule/EducationalStudies.aspx

Registration: https://www.bsu.edu/webapps2/see/

Ethics and Excellence in High School

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:11:08 +0000

A report recently released outlines eight strengths of character that can helpboth students and schools achieve ethical and productive futures.

http://www.cortland.edu/character/highschool/chapters/SnGReport.pdf

Graduation For All

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:11:47 +0000

Here are a couple of very interesting and extensive articles on graduation rates and the need to promote graduation for all students. The first article talks mostly about the graduation gap between the upper 2/3 of high school students and the lower 1/3, made up mostly of urban, low-income African American and Latino students. The other article is from the Governor’s Guide to Dropout Prevention and Recovery.

http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0910ACHIEVINGGRADUATION.PDF

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=450020&subsecID=900201&contentID=254746

Democratic Schools Paper

Wayne Jennings — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:58:30 +0000

Arising from discussions with Politeia, Brazil’s democratic education institute, at the 15th International Democratic Education Conference last summer in Sao Paulo a new work “A History of Democratic Education in American Public Schools” by democracy advocate and IALA member John Harris Loflin is now available.

Supported by IALA, this comprehensive 161 page paper aims at persuading American urban public classrooms and schools to become more democratic. In doing so, he encourages public schools to enter solidly into the 21st century by questioning, rethinking and providing alternatives to 20th century concepts particularly for under-served children and youth.

Early College High Schools Grow Dramatically

Wayne Jennings — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:46:55 +0000

One of the newest stars in the education constellation is combining secondary education with college and it has taken off dramatically. In just one major program this year, 159 schools in 24 states operate with an expected 100,000 students served at 250 sites within the next few years. What are early college programs?

Early college schools are partnerships between public secondary schools and higher education institutions. These small schools are designed so that students accumulate high school and college credit simultaneously. Going beyond typical dual enrollment programs, the early college curriculum is a coherent unit, with high school and college-level work blended into a single academic program that positions students to leave high school with one to two years of college credit. This initiative funded by conventional revenues but augmented by numerous foundations aims at breakthroughs with youth underrepresented in college enrollments.

A stunning example of using almost every progressive reform idea is that of the Empowering Students program of the Georgia state colleges. It begins in the 7th grade with schools on college campuses, uses students as resources, involves community volunteers, integrates curriculum and impressively raises student aspirations.

This astonishing movement is a striking example of an institutional bypass! A major initiative is coordinated by the Early College High School program of Jobs for the Future. There are others as has been noted on this weblog earlier.

Research on Alternative Schools

Wayne Jennings — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:04:30 +0000

The 2001

A Second Side to the Story

Wayne Jennings — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:06:48 +0000

Many students identified as at-risk become dropouts from school. Most of the discussion about dropouts focuses on characteristics of the students with little examination of the policies and practices of schools that contribute to student failure. Those policies and practices represent the second side of the story about why so many students dropout or give up. Revision of school policies can contribute greatly to student success.

The Iowa Dept. of Education and the Iowa Association of Alternative Education created the Inventory of Policies & Practices Related to Student Failure and Dropping Out defining over 50 policies and practices that contribute to student failure. This powerful tool helps in the review of school policies and in creating new policies to increase student success. This carefully developed inventory is free and can be modified to fit local needs. Also included is a student questionnaire for their views.

Dr. Ray Morley on a recent webcast (see below) reported on this excellent tool on crucial factors impacting student dropouts and what unfortunately may result in “push outs.”

Webcast: Dropout Crisis

Wayne Jennings — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:47:45 +0000

Ray Morley, long time educator on alternatives and at-risk and IALA board member presented an informative webcast March 25, 3:30-4:30 EST on Solutions to the Dropout Crisis, Policies and Practices Related to Student Failure and Dropping Out: Tools and Resources. The program was sponsored by National Dropout Prevention Center/Network at Clemson University and Penn Foster.The program was archived in its entirety on the Web site and is available in case you missed the March 25 broadcast.

Information about participating in dropout professional development opportunities is at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. If you have further questions, feel free to contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or 864

Alternative Schools Help Students: Proof

Wayne Jennings — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:25:40 +0000

Most attempts to judge schools depend on test scores. Few reports cover the personal impact on students. The Iowa Association of Alternative Education has updated their Iowa Success Stories of Alternative Schools and Students which tells the moving personal stories of dozens of students. This evidence of the power of alternative educational programs to turn around the lives of students provides important data for policy makers and evaluators. The report also has other research data and statistics plus references. This valuable report is available for all to use on the IALA website which contains much other useful reports and data.

Getting Able Low Income Students into College

Wayne Jennings — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:38:58 +0000

Nancy Hoffman and Joel Vargas in “The College Gap” (Education Week 10-10-07) write that only 25% of high achieving low income high school students attend college and only a fraction graduate in four years. They propose two solutions either separately or in combination:
1. They list three essential steps: success in high school academic classes to avoid college remediation, free or reduced financial aid for college, and a web of support from school, families and communities through high school and into post secondary education.
2. A system of early college high schools (sometimes called middle colleges: search this website) for integrating high school and postsecondary education. Some 150 early college high schools have started since 2002 and have proved highly motivational for students.

Their book, Minding the Gap details how strong academics, financing and support can sustain an integrated secondary-postsecondary program. The Early College High School Initiative website coordinated by Jobs for the Future offers resources and an eight minute explanatory videotape on the web.

Empowering Students: How Georgia College Early College Changes Student Aspirations (2008) gives an update on a succesful program beginning with seventh graders. This 10 page report highlights the program’s critical features.

Highly Successful Alternative

Wayne Jennings — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:00:43 +0000

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.

Programs for Seriously At-Risk Youth

Wayne Jennings — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:12:14 +0000

A recent article “Building Strengths through Adventure Education” authored by his son, Grover, highlighted the pioneering work of Campbell Loughmiller. For 20 years he ran a year-round residential camp for seriously disturbed boys from age 8 to 18. I was stunned by the description and power of their humane approach to totally turn around deeply troubled youth and make them into good citizens over a period of some 16 months. The boys initially far behind with academic skills caught up (without classes) and became eager to return to their formerly hated school as newly competent individuals. The program is described in Campbell Loughmiller’s excellent first book Wilderness Road and summarized in his second book Kids in Trouble also excellent.

I read both books years ago and was inspired by the paradigm shift this approach represented for treating delinquent and expelled students. I was equally dismayed by the lack of interest by special education staff when I recommended the books. The article appeared in a highly recommended journal, Reclaiming Children and Youth (spring, 2007) published by Crisis Prevention Institute which is dedicated to

State Alternative Education Conferences

Wayne Jennings — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:59:40 +0000

The Iowa Association of Alternative Education will hold their annual conference April 11-13, 2007 in Des Moines. The theme is “Raise Your Hand and Give Yourself a Pat on the Back.” Keynote speakers include Elliot Washor and Ray Morley. In addition to numerous breakout sessions other presenters include Donna Downing, Jerry Mintz and Ron Newell. The site is the Airport Holiday Inn. It promises to be stimulating and provocative. IALA will be represented by Executive Director, Dan Daly.

The Michigan Alternative Education Organization will hold their conference April 25-27, 2007 in Boyne Highlands, Michigan with the theme, Another Choice, Another Chance. Bill Sanders is the keynoter with breakout sessions on highly qualified, computer projects, math and new standards, administrative issues, violence assessments, Like Water Drumworks. It promises to be stimulating and provocative.

The Oklahoma Alternative Education Summer Institute will be held June 19-21, 2007 in Oklahoma City.

The New York State Alternative Education Association will hold their annual conference at Ithaca October 18-19, 2007.

The Washington Association for Learning Alternatives will hold its annual fall November 8-10, 2007 in Pasco.

Several other states have held their conferences earlier this year: Connecticut, Iowa, Virginia.