Services Offered Through Alternative Education:
Mission:
“Putting Students First”
The mission of the Department of Alternative Education reflects our District’s commitment to student success as accomplished through our district and state Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP, Goals 1-4).
The mission of the Department of Alternative Education is to ensure excellence in teaching and learning so each student is prepared to succeed in college and career (LCAP #1). This mission is accomplished by:
- Creating safe and healthy learning environments for each student by building a culture of equity and a positive climate that promotes excellence through the services we provide (LCAP #2).
- Fostering and honoring parent/guardian and community engagement to support excellence in each student’s success (LCAP #3).
- Developing coherent and transparent systems for operational excellence to support each student’s success (LCAP #4).
Purpose:
The Department of Alternative Education provides learning opportunities and services for students in non-traditional settings. These educational services include individualized approaches to an education such as; flexible hours, self-paced instruction with teacher support, advanced technological access, and an open-entry / open-exit, personalized education at numerous comprehensive high school campuses and off-site satellite locations throughout the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD). Alternative pathways and instructional and curricular strategies are utilized to assist students in reaching their academic goals. Students electing to pursue their learning through services offered by the Department of Alternative Education are expected to reach the state standards, participate in all local and state mandated assessments, and meet SUHSD graduation requirements in order to receive a diploma.
Independent Study:
Independent Study is voluntary and adequate progress needs to be made in order to remain in the program. Students must be able to do the work at home (20-30 hours of homework a week) and maintain their once per week meetings with a teacher. Most students work on one course/class at a time, and they’re required to complete a course/class in three weeks. Attendance is based on the amount of work produced; therefore, students must complete a minimum amount of work to remain in Independent Study. Students must have self-initiative, good work habits, and good reading skills to succeed. Students will be returned to the home school or the referring school if the required progress is not met. Independent Study students must pass all competencies as any other student. Students earning a high school diploma while on Independent Study will retain all rights at the resident school and a regular high school diploma issued by the resident school. Students may apply to Independent Study through a team decision process initiated on the main campus involving administration, counseling, parent(s) and the student.
Home Hospital Education:
Home Hospital Education is for students who are temporarily unable to attend school due to a variety of medical reasons. Students must have a physician’s (medical doctor) note that includes the medical diagnosis, the reason for limited mobility, and the approximate duration of time that requires the student to be absent from regular, daily attendance in a comprehensive school setting. Most of the time students are seen at home. Students are referred for six or more weeks. Teachers may make home visits if a student is physically unable to attend meetings. Traditional or individualized curriculum is available based on need. Students may only be referred to Home Hospital Education through a team decision process initiated on the main campus involving administration, counseling, parent(s) and the student.