Alternative Education: Exploring Innovations in Learning Nina Culbertson, Senior Research Associate Twitter #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 #altedmass

3 Recent policy context 2006 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, Legislation requires suspended/expelled students access to learning; alt ed identified as potential avenue #altedmass

4 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 #altedmass

5 Student experience  Relatively few public school students enroll in alternatives; may benefit younger students #altedmass

6 Alternative education educates more diverse students #altedmass

7 Alternative education educates more diverse students #altedmass

8 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 #altedmass

9 Student experience  Districts closely monitor students to make data-driven decisions  Students develop positive attitudes about learning and likely experience personal growth #altedmass “Alternative education picks up the pieces of a student’s life to provide motivation, experience, and efficacy to succeed.” –District leader

10 Student needs drive innovation #altedmass Flexible instructional and support strategies accommodate students’ lives and needs Personalized curriculum allows for acceleration Focus on students’ experience & future goals Consistent tracking of student progress towards non- academic goals Hands-on or career-oriented component, fostering multiple domains of learning

11 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 #altedmass

12 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 #altedmass

13 Thank you! For more information about this policy brief, please contact Nina Culbertson at or 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