Alternative Schools and Programs for Public School Students At Risk of Educational Failure: 2007-08

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This First Look report presents data from a recent district Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) survey about alternative schools and programs available to students during the 2007-08 school year. Alternative schools and programs are specifically designed to address the educational needs of students at risk of school failure in a setting apart from that of the regular public school. They can be administered by the district or an entity other than the district. The study includes information on the availability and number of alternative schools and programs, the number of students enrolled in alternative schools and program, and district policy on returning students to a regular school. Findings include:

* In the 2007–08 school year, 64 percent of districts reported having at least one alternative school or program for at-risk students that was administered either by the district or by another entity. Forty percent of districts reported having at least one district-administered alternative school or program, and 35 percent of districts reported using at least one alternative school or program administered by another entity in the 2007–08 school year.

* There were 646,500 students enrolled in public school districts attending alternative schools and programs for at-risk students in 2007–08, with 558,300 students attending district-administered alternative schools and programs and 87,200 students attending alternative schools and programs administered by another entity.

* Sixty-three percent of the districts reported having a policy that allowed all students enrolled in alternative schools or programs to return to regular school, and 36 percent of the districts reported having a policy that allowed some of the students to return to a regular school. Among the factors these districts reported as very important in determining whether a student was able to return were: improved attitude/behavior (78 percent), student motivation (77 percent), approval of alternative school or program staff (60 percent), and improved grades (58 percent).
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