Date of Graduation

2001

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

More and more students are being labeled at-risk in our educational system. These students are often behind academically, have dropped out of school, or have been suspended or expelled from conventional high schools. In West Virginia in 1995, 4,008 students did not complete high school (West Virginia University Survey Research Center, 1977). Alternative schools or programs are a direct result of a need to provide options to students who cannot be accommodated by conventional public schools. Alternative Education Program in West Virginia is defined as an authorized departure from the regular school program designed to provide educational and social development for students whose disruptive behavior places them at risk of not succeeding in the traditional school structures and in adult life without positive interventions (WV School Board of Education Policy 2418, School Laws of WV § 18-2-6). The purpose of this study was to determine the superintendents' or the counties' alternative education coordinator's perceptions about alternative education efforts for “at-risk” students in the 55 county school systems in West Virginia. A questionnaire was mailed to the superintendent of each of the 55 counties, who either completed the questionnaire or gave it to the Coordinator for “at-risk” students. This study determined: (1) what “programming” is provided for “at-risk” students in alternative education in West Virginia; (2) how the success of the alternative education program is evaluated; (3) what expertise help superintendents or county alternative education coordinators provide leadership for alternative education; and (4) how superintendents or county alternative education coordinators provide leadership to make their alternative education program successful?

Download

Share

COinS