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Alternative Education: Exploring Innovations in
Learning
Nina Culbertson, Senior Research Associate
Twitter conversation: @therenniecenter #altedmass
2
Rennie Center research on alternative education
Establish baseline understanding of alternative education in Massachusetts
Mix of qualitative and quantitative methods
Research + policy literature review
Analysis of state data
Interviews with practitioners
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Recent policy context200
6•Alt ed line item in state budget is $1.5M
2007
• State first calculates high school graduation rates
2008
• Legislation establishes Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission
2009
• Commission suggests districts pursue alt ed for dropout reduction
2010
• MA awarded $15M federal grant for dropout reduction; state budget line item down to $150,000
2012• Legislation requires suspended/expelled
students access to learning; alt ed identified as potential avenue
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Key programmatic elements
Alternatives must be sponsored by public school district and offer high school diploma
Far more alternative programs than separate schools
Autonomy is crucial: alts designed to adjust to student needs
Qualified and committed staff help alternatives thrive
Districts may contract with external organizations to host, run, or share resources
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Student experience
Relatively few public school students enroll in alternatives; may benefit younger students
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Alternative education educates more diverse students
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
34%
21%
38%
2% 4%
67%
8%16%
3% 6%
Alternative education total State total
Race
Perc
en
t o
f stu
den
ts#altedmass
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Alternative education educates more diverse students
SPED Limited English Proficient Low-income0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
29%
13%
71%
16%
7%
35%
Alternative education total State total
Student subgroup
Pe
rce
nt
of
stu
de
nts
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Students benefit from a comprehensive referral processes when enrolling in alternative settings
Identification by staff & warning indicators
Evaluation of student history & needs
Apply intervention strategies or services
Official referral to alternative setting
Student choice into program & goal-setting
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Student experience
Districts closely monitor students to make data-driven decisions
Students develop positive attitudes about learning and likely experience personal growth
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“Alternative education picks up the pieces of a student’s life to provide motivation, experience, and efficacy to succeed.”
–District leader
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Student needs drive innovation
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Flexible instructional and support strategies
accommodate students’
lives and needs
Personalized
curriculum allows for
acceleration
Focus on students’
experience & future
goalsConsistent tracking of
student progress towards
non-academic
goals
Hands-on or career-
oriented component,
fostering multiple
domains of learning
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Challenges moving forward
Alternative education practices have not yet influenced districts more broadly
Alternative education capacity is stretched, with more demand than seats
Information about alternative programs and students is difficult to gather
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Policy considerations
Use recent state legislation as a lever for creating change in alternative education data reporting
Expand the use of analytic tools to guide development of alternative education options
Treat promising alternative education sites as “innovation labs” to benefit a broader student population
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Thank you!
For more information about this policy brief, please contact Nina Culbertson at
[email protected] or 617.354.0002.
All information in this presentation is from a copyrighted Rennie Center publication. Suggested citation:
Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy. (June 2014). Alternative Education: Exploring Innovations in Learning. Cambridge, MA: Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy.
#altedmass
