Our nation has set a goal to ensure that 90 percent of our students graduate high school by 2020. Data show that alternative high schools are overrepresented in low graduation rate high schools, or schools that fail to graduate one-third or more of their students. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is an opportunity to examine the important role these alternative settings play in ensuring that all students have a pathway to a secondary credential, and are ultimately prepared for postsecondary education, careers, and life. It is also an important time for states to reflect on the general purpose of accountability and its role in ensuring quality and continuous improvement of educational institutions. This though leaders’ meeting previewed a forthcoming policy brief on alternative education accountability (AYPF and Civic Enterprises), as well as an alternative education toolkit (Education Northwest). Discussions centered around the four components to be considered in the creation of robust systems for high-quality alternative education.
Resources
NY Times article: New York Schools for Off-Track Students May Face Stricter Rules
How do states define alternative education (ICF International, 2014)
