an educational setting designed to accommodate educational, behavioral, and/or medical needs of children and adolescents that cannot be adequately addressed in a traditional school environment
a school that has an organizational structure, a teaching staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum, each of which is separate from other schools
a school which provides a response to parents who think that the regular school program is too restrictive, too structured and too highly evaluative for the learning styles of their children
a short-term intervention program designed to develop academic and behavioral skills for disruptive students
A school based on a non-traditional or new educational philosophy. A wide range of philosophies and teaching methods are offered by alternative schools; some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientations, while others are more ad-hoc assemblies of teachers and students dissatisfied with some aspect of mainstream education.
School that differs in some way from conventional schools. Alternative schools are usually small and often use a special teaching method or curriculum. Some alternative schools accept students only after they have attended another school. (See Transfer Alternative schools)
In 1970, there were only a few alternative schools in operation in the United States. They originated to serve a growing population of students who were not experiencing success in the traditional schools. Today, alternative schools cater to students who have special educational needs as well as those who would like to experience school differently.
