The Governing Board desires to provide a variety of education programs designed to address students' diverse learning needs and enhance student achievement through innovative methods and ideas.
The Board may establish and maintain alternative schools or separate class groups within a school in order to fulfill the objectives specified in Education Code 58500.
The parent/guardian of any student may request the Board to establish an alternative school or program. (Education Code 58502)
The Superintendent or designee may establish an advisory committee of staff and community members to evaluate proposals for alternative schools. The Board shall approve or disapprove proposals after considering the recommendation of the committee and the Superintendent or designee.
(cf. 1220 - Citizen Advisory Committees)
Alternative schools or class groups shall offer the Board-adopted core curriculum. With Board approval, the schools or programs may differ from ongoing programs in other ways that include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. They may emphasize a specific element of the approved curriculum.
2. They may present the approved curriculum in a sequence different from that used in other district programs.
3. Their staff may emphasize specific instructional strategies.
4. The decision-making process for their governance may differ from the processes used in other programs.
Alternative schools shall comply with state and federal law and Board policy regarding nondiscrimination in district programs.
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
The Superintendent or designee shall annually evaluate alternative schools in accordance with law. (Education Code 58510)
He/she shall report the evaluation results to the Board.
(cf. 0500 - Accountability)
(cf. 6190 - Evaluation of the Instructional Program)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
35160.5 Intradistrict open enrollment
41505-41508 Pupil Retention Block Grant
58500-58512 Alternative schools
60850-60856 High school exit examination
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
11705 Charter schools as alternative schools
Management Resources:
WEB SITES
CDE: www.cde.ca.gov
Policy NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 8, 2009 Costa Mesa, California