This qualitative study examined how students at Science Hill High Alternative Center (AC) perceived their academic success. Eighteen alumni from Science Hill High School Alternative Center were interviewed to examine their perceptions of their success. Choosing 2 alumni to represent each of the 9 programs represented at the AC provided perceptions of 3 emerging themes: (a) relationships, (b) diversity of programs, and (c) personal growth. There were other findings that were noted but not identified as a theme. Other findings involved alumni wanting to reminisce about incidents that occurred and reflect on peers who were in attendance with them at the center. Some alumni who attended programs other than Graduate On Time (GOT) discussed the need for a graduation component through the Alternative Center. Some said that returning to the main campus was not in their best interest and sabotaged their success in order to remain at the AC, while other alumni strived to return to the main campus as soon as they had met their academic goals. In relating their initial thoughts about attending the Alternative Center for the first time, many had mixed feelings: (a) they did not want to be separated from friends, (b) would they be successful, (c) who really cared if they came to school and were successful, and (d) would they really get to return to the main campus as soon as they met their goals. Additionally, alumni suggested that students be allowed to stay at the Alternative Center (AC) if it helped them to be better prepared for the workforce or college. Alumni who spoke about their success said they were better prepared than their peers for college admissions standards, work ethics, and the employment process in general.

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The purpose of this paper is to examine findings related to the problems that school systems confront in educating all students and the approaches used in solving those problems through the use of alternative educational curricula and settings. It considers that schools foster public engagement, not simply public relations, in order to bring the communities they serve into conversation, which calls for listening, responding, and educating. Findings indicate that concerns about poor performance on standardized tests, academic standards, and the numbers of students dropping out of schools are among the problems many public schools unfortunately have in common in both rural and urban areas. These deficiencies exist in populations represented in public schools throughout this country. This study reveals that even though these seemingly insurmountable problems are an on-going cause for public concerns of American schools, school leaders are addressing these issues through policies and practices in alternative education programs. The category of educational alternative option studied will be that of public choice alternative education. Public choice options are open to all students in their localities who meet the placement criteria. The chosen school studied, the Virginia Randolph Community High School , was identified by the Virginia State Department of Education as having an established public choice alternative education program. This alternative high school has been fully accredited by Virginia standards. This investigation will also examine the influence of a historical figure, Miss Virginia Estelle Randolph, on the present alternative educational program at Virginia Randolph Community High School. / Ed. D.

This was a case study analysis of the Opportunity School, an alternative public education program in Danville,Virginia that serves students who are considered academically at-risk, grades six through twelve. A case study analysis of the Opportunity School was implemented to provide specific information regarding the overall effectiveness of the program. In addition, the analysis attempted to: reflect on the worthiness of the program since its inception in 1993; assess the program's strengths and weakness; ascertain students' level of satifaction; address areas that needed further expansion and suggest recommendations, based on indicators of effectiveness cited in the literature. The case study analysis, which was qualitative and quantitative was the methodology implemented in this research. The case records included, focus group sessions, interviews, student questionnaire, typology--using Kellmayer's indicators, and analysis of students' records. The sample population for this study was students who participated in the Opportunity School's program in 1996-97. Sixteen students participated in three focus groups and 41 students responded to a questionnaire designed to determine their satisfaction with the Opportunity School. In addition, school records of 153 students who participated in the program for a least one year between 1993-1997 were analyzed using: paired t-Tests, correlation coefficients, standard deviations, means and cross tabulations. Analysis of student data revealed the Opportunity School's program may have contributed to the positive change in students' academics performance and disciplinary behavior. Other factors that may have contributed to this change are maturation of students and repetitiveness of the Literacy Passport tests, which was used as a barometer to gauge academic performance. Collectively the Opportunity School's program has provided at-risk students with a second chance to continue their education. However, to more effectively serve students, there are areas that should be strengthen and expanded. Some of these areas included: use and integration of technology in the classroom, more variety in curriculum courses, adding a vocational education component, flexibility around the time of day students attend school and a comprehensive counseling program. The Opportunity School in Danville, Virginia should continue serving students who are considered at-risk of dropping out of school. Students in the school perceived the program as meeting their needs, and were very satisfied with the program and the school's staff. However, if alternative program for at-risk students are to have have real benefits, merely labeling them alternative will obviously not do. A program design must incorporate quantitative attributes. To further assess the effectiveness of alternative education programs for at-risk populations more longitudinal studies are needed. / Ed. D.

This study examined the attitudes of elementary school teachers and parents on school choice for parents within the system, and suggestions and feasibility on the implementation of alternative education in Tainan City. The findings were as follows: the attitude of elementary educators and parents on the "school choice for parents" and "the alternative education school management" hold a positive perception; alternative education school management within the system, "financial resources" is the first level of concern, second "performance evaluation"¡Fmost of principals can adapt to the times and realize that the school choice for parents is the trend of the times, but teachers are worried about the expansion of school choice will affect the teachers¡¦ professional autonomy; the problems encountered and focused with the implementation of "alternative education school within the system" in Tainan City are "the retention for excellent teachers", "the communication and the marketing of alternative education school management within the system", and "decree amendments and deregulation. " Based on the findings, this study offered following suggestions: 1. The suggestions for alternative education school management within the system: (1) Financial resources: The integration of resources and funding from local community and parents association, and in conjunction with the "school-based financial management" concept in planning and prioritizing school resources and funding. (2)Performance evaluation: The establishment of sound professional supervision and performance evaluation systems, and in collaboration with professors from university education departments to develop effective evaluation systems for individual students and effective systems for learning assessment. (3)Personnel organization: The development of the school-based teacher training credit certification and the independent selection process for teachers based on the needs of the school curriculum; the development of the appropriate, flexible, dynamic and open organizational structure. (4)Curriculum and instruction: The development of the school-based curriculum for instantaneous research and discussion within the organization; the group instruction based on major and minor areas of study in accordance with students¡¦ preference. 2. The suggestions for general school management : (1)Focus on school reforms and performances to expedite the improvement on school features and brand name in order to carve out a niche during the time of low birthrate and rising awareness of parents. (2)Curriculum and instruction are the essence of school management, principals should exhibit leadership and influence in incorporating school teachers¡¦ professional competence and integrate the programs of study to enliven teaching contents and methods in order to develop the school-based curriculum. (3)Teacher training and professional growth are the focus of attention and therefore only with the contemporaneous teacher training and learning can there be creative and effective teachings. (4)Schools and communities are now closely connected with each other, and school management is closely related to community development. Schools should integrate the databases and resources network of the community to expand the efficiency of community resources in order to assist in school management, teacher¡¦s professional growth and student learning. (5)Schools should implement and carry out complete teacher evaluation for professional development, instructional evaluation, school evaluation and other evaluation systems and mechanisms in order to bring about the effectiveness of school management.

This study was conducted to analyze the performance differences between alternative education campuses in Texas that used teacher-directed strategies and those that used self-directed strategies. The study was also conducted to inform educators of the results these two strategies had achieved with at-risk students during the three years of 2006-2008. The study used the results from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test as reported in the AEIS annual reports from the Texas Education Agency. Alternative education schools were grouped according to the strategy used to educate at-risk students. The results of the statistical tests showed the two strategies had similar performance results and there was no statistical difference between the two. The results offered several implications concerning the ability of at-risk students to achieve in alternative education schools including possible reasons why students who were previously unsuccessful became successful in alternative settings. The report also addressed the number of students who continued to be unsuccessful even when placed on an alternative education campus. Possible reasons for this continued inability to succeed are discussed. Recommendations for further research were listed at the conclusion of the study.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2006. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Leila Villaverde; submitted to the School of Education. Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-185).

Teaching oral reading fluency is an important aspect of effective literacy instruction. Researchers have investigated a number of strategies shown to be effective with beginning readers; however, less empirical evidence is available for older, struggling readers. The secondary curriculum presents adolescent struggling readers with different challenges, including successful completion of higher level comprehension skill activities, high-stakes assessments, and limited classroom time with practice with oral reading fluency exercises. These conditions may lead to academic failure or school drop-out for students who have limited reading ability. An alternating conditions design (Kazdin, 1982) was used to examine the influence of peer-mediated fluency instruction (repeated reading and continuous reading) on the oral reading fluency and comprehension skills of five high school-aged struggling readers from an urban alternative high school setting. The three dependent variables measured were (a) words correct per minute, (b) number of errors, and (c) number of comprehension questions answered correctly. Results of the alternating treatments design indicate that all students increased their correct words per minute with implementation of peer-mediated repeated reading fluency instruction as compared to the peer-mediated continuous reading instruction. However, mixed results were found regarding accuracy of comprehension questions. Limitations were noted with regard to working within an alternative high school setting, variability in student outcomes, and the use of narrative text. Future research suggestions for using peer-mediated oral reading fluency instruction with students with and without disabilities in alternative high school settings are provided.