IALA » Morley, Ray

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

Checklist for Alternative Education

Wayne Jennings — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:38:26 +0000

Three valuable and useful checklist are available on the IALA website to help determine whether a given alternative school is truly an alternative versus a mere replication of conventional education. These thoughtful checklists for anyone to use include:
Pseudo-Alternative School Checklist by John Loflin

Checklist of Quality Indicators for Alternative Education by Ray Morley

Quality Indicators for Alternative Schools in the Seattle School District by Elaine Packard

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.

Residential Academies

Wayne Jennings — Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:05:08 +0000

Ray Morley, IALA board member and prolific contributor to educational alternatives for many years has described a rapidly growing phenomenia, that of residential academies. For a quick look at this concept see his paper, “Residential Education: A Topic for Consideration in Alternative Education.” He also describes the Coalition for Residential Education.

Residential Schools

Wayne Jennings — Sun, 11 Jan 2004 18:16:10 +0000

Seed School (real name, Schools for Educational Evolution and Development), a residential boarding charter secondary school for at-risk students in Washington, DC has received a great deal of publicity for its success. The program provides students a high degree of structure and academic rigor. It claims a high success in turning around the lives of its students.

Core, an organization has information on starting residential boarding schools for at-risk students, a likely area of growth for alternative education in the future according to Ray Morley with the Iowa Department of Education (rcmorley@cheerful.com) where a recent study indicated that more than 4,000 adolescents need alternative living arrangements.

Sources of Information on Educational Alternatives

Wayne Jennings — Sat, 13 Sep 2003 17:49:35 +0000

Ray Morley made a great contribution by listing a huge bank of resources in his Resources in Alternative Education. It includes national information centers, books, historical references, journals, high school research reports, readings, legal references, position statements, facts and projections, research on federally sponsored models, and keys to success. This can be a first stop seeking info on alternatives.