1. Effectiveness of Alternative Education Programs for African American Males Within Secondary Education Tamika Mathews Ashford University

2. Area of Focus The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not Alternative Education Programs for African American males within the secondary scope of education will be effective in preparing them for college or a career that will keep them from becoming incarcerated or some other detrimental fate.

3. Variables Six African American males in ages ranging from 14-18 from the three urban schools in Caddo Parish 2 boys were taken from each school Not all of the boys are on the path of dropping out of high school

4. Research Questions Can Alternative Education Programs be effective in drop-out prevention? If these students knew about the opportunities of AEP’s early on would it help? Can parental involvement influence the decision to attend a program?

5. Intervention Develop a partnership with AEP Group sessions with students and parents

6. Data Collection School records(report cards, disciplinary records) Parental consent Questionnaires Surveys Formal and informal interviews

7. Ethical Consideration Dealing with one race and one gender Social economics

8. References Amurao, C. (2013, February 21). Tavis Smiley Reports. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from PBS.org: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/tsr/education-under-arrest/fact-sheet-drop-out-rates- of-african-american-boys/ Darensbourg, A. P. (2010). Overrepresentation of African American Males in Exclusionary Discipline: The Role of School-Based Mental Health Professionals in Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline. Journal of African American Males in Education, 1(3). Dianda, M. R. (2008, November). Preventing Future High School Dropouts. An Advocacy and Action Guide for NEA State and Local Affiliates. Washington, DC, USA: National Education Association. Franklin, C. M. (1990). School social work work; Finding from an alternative school for dropouts.. Social Work in Education, 12(3), 177-192. National Dropout Prevention Center. (2014). Retrieved June 8, 2014, from Dropout prevention.org: http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies/alternative- schooling