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P1214 ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS
BOARD POLICY:
The Wichita Public Schools shall provide alternative education programs as deemed necessary to meet the needs of pupils at preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, post-high school, and adult educational levels. These programs are to meet the objectives, standards, and requirements of the Board for the appropriate organizational level. Alternative programs must seek and receive approval of the Board of Education prior to implementation or discontinuance.
Note: Alternative education programs are defined as alternative schools of choice taught in a non-traditional manner or special programs within a school that comply with district-approved curriculum. Admittance to attend alternative schools is open to all students and accomplished by application with an interview and selection process conducted at the building site. Students in the attendance area for schools housing special programs within their schools may be assigned to that special program based on their residential address or may apply for that special program through the special assignment process if they do not live in the assigned attendance area.
Administrative Implemental Procedures:
1. The Superintendent shall designate the Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools to coordinate alternative education programs, encourage the success of a long-range comprehensive alternative program, meet the public relations needs for alternative education, unify the overall efforts for alternative education, and verify program needs.
2. A district wide alternative school-community advisory committee will be formed. There will be representation from each alternative education program. Membership shall include representative groups of teachers, parents, or administrators from each alternative school, plus community lay people. A proper membership balance shall be maintained with an opportunity for volunteer participation, and with lay people comprising at least 51 percent of the membership.
3. The advisory committee will meet with the Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools at least twice each year. The first meeting shall follow the official enrollment date of September 20th of each year and prior to October 15th. The second meeting shall be held by February 15th. Other meetings may be called at the discretion of the Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools.
4. The committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Education on issues such as: monitoring current alternative school enrollments, assisting with promotional and recruitment activities, and hearing any proposals for a new program or the discontinuance of any alternative schools.
5. The Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools will be involved in program staffing, program development, inservice training, and mutual support.
6. A building principal is authorized to approve the operation of separate alternative education programs within a regular attendance unit if the programs do not alter appreciably the character of the total school.
7. The implementation of an alternative education program must be approved by the Board of Education. Proposals submitted to the Board of Education should satisfy these criteria:
a. The proposed program should be developed in response to a community/parental request.
b. The program must differ from the conventional school in environment, structure, and/or teaching/learning styles.
c. The alternative program meets the pupils and staff needs through consistency of goals, methods, and philosophy. Application to the program is open to all pupils in the district. Students are admitted by an application and interview process at the building site.
d. Evaluation of the alternative program should include academic achievement, personal and social growth and adjustment compared to standards for conventional schools.
e. The school must comply with all Board of Education policies and procedures and the Civil Rights Act concerning nondiscrimination with regard to sex, race, religious and ethnic background, and Section 504 pertaining to the handicapped.
f. Community resources should be utilized to the fullest extent.
g. Any deviation from Board transportation policies shall be determined by the needs of a particular center.
h. The proposal should present a plan for implemental procedures.
8. The Board of Education will discuss any new alternative school program or the discontinuation of any alternative school program at its first meeting in March and will vote on the final approval or closure of such program by the end of March. If any new alternative school program or discontinuation of a program is approved on the March vote, the developmental year for the new program will start that fall. The implementation for the new or discontinued program will then start the fall of the next school year. The Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools will notify schools, which will not continue to operate as an alternative site, by April 15th.
Latest Revision Date: September 2001
Previous Revision Date: August 1996
Administrative Responsibility: Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools P1214
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