OCEAN SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT
ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM
PROCEDURES
1. STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY:
The mission of the Ocean Springs School District is to provide an educational environment in which the students have the opportunity to achieve success, to develop emotional well being, and to become responsible citizens. Those students of compulsory school age who demonstrate their inability or unwillingness to comply with the rules designed to promote the achievement of this mission at their assigned school, or whose presence in the regular school environment would pose a serious distraction or threat to a quality educational climate for other students (as determined by the district administration and school board), shall be assigned to an Alternative Program of education.
The provisions of the Alternative Program shall focus upon the following: academic basic skills in limited content areas, career orientation, and behavior modification. Once assigned to the Alternative Program, evaluations of the student's progress shall be conducted at established intervals to determine when (or if) the student is ready to reenter the regular educational environment. An appropriate recommendation shall then be made by the staff of the Alternative Program to the district administration and school board concerning the future placement status of alternative school students.
2. STUDENTS TO BE SERVED:
The Ocean Springs School District Alternative Program shall serve the following categories of compulsory-school-age students:
A. BY SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION
Any compulsory-school-age child who has been suspended or expelled from the regular school program, except for any student expelled for possession of a weapon or other felonious conduct unless so approved or ordered by the school board, may be placed in the program;
B. BY REQUEST OF PARENT
Any compulsory-school-age child referred to such Alternative Program based upon a document of need for placement in the alternative school by the parent or legal guardian or custodian of such child due to disciplinary/academic/social issues may be placed in the program;
C. BY JUDICIAL ORDER
Any compulsory-school-age child referred to such Alternative Program by the dispositive order of a chancellor or youth court judge, with the consent of the principal of the child's school, may be placed in the program;
D. BY I.E.P. PLACEMENT OR S.A.T. REFERRAL
Any compulsory-school-age student referred by school SAT Committee or found eligible under IDEA who is referred to the Alternative Program by the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) may be placed in the program.
3. ASSIGNMENT TO THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM:
The assignment of a student to the Alternative Program shall be by direction of the school board and shall specifically state the duration of placement. Recommendations for assignment to the Alternative Program shall be made by
- any chancellor or youth judge having jurisdiction in the school district,
- the Superintendent,
- the school principal,
- the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a student, or by
- the Special Education Local Survey Committee (I.E.P. Committee),
- Discipline Review Committee,
- SAT Recommendation for GED Option
Upon such recommendation, the Superintendent may, at his/her discretion, temporarily place a candidate in the Alternative Program pending school board approval (or school board review in the case of an IEP, GED, SAT, or parental placement.) Assignment of a student to the Alternative Program for disciplinary reasons shall be in keeping with School Board Policy JCAA: Due Process.
A. THE SCREENING COMMITTEE
There shall be an evaluation of each student considered for assignment to the Alternative Program. The evaluation shall be performed by a screening committee from the student's home school with membership to include, but not limited to, the following: two (2) teachers of the student, a counselor, the principal of the student, a representative of the special education department, and a district administrator. If appropriate, the school nurse may serve on the screening committee.
B. THE EVALUATION
A screening committee from the student's home school shall review any records and conduct such interviews, as it deems necessary and appropriate in making the evaluation. The counselor from the student's home school shall conduct an interview with the parent, legal guardian, or custodian in which input shall be sought. The evaluation report shall include, but not be limited to, the following: assessment of the student's academic status and needs, identification of the social and/or behavior modification needs, and identification of any out-of-school special situations which impact upon the student's suitability for the Alternative Program.
C. THE INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION PLAN (I.I.P.)
A screening committee shall develop an Individual Instructional Plan (IIP) for each student assigned to the alternative school. Students found eligible under IDEA will also follow the IEP in addition to the IIP. The IIP shall be reviewed by the principal of the Alternative Education Center with the parent, legal guardian, or custodian shortly after the student has been processed into the Alternative Program. The student's progress relative to the IIP and the IEP, if applicable, shall be evaluated at regular intervals and will become part of his/her record while in the alternative school.
D. SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS
When it is determined that a student found eligible under IDEA should be placed in the Alternative Program, the principal of the student shall notify the chairperson of the school's local survey committee.
The principal shall ask that a Written Prior Notice for Review/Revision of the IEP be sent to the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the student and that the committee meets to determine a possible IEP modification, which would accommodate placement in the Alternative Program. If the new IEP places the student in the Alternative Program, the school board will be notified for review purposes. The special education student shall not be required to attend the Alternative Program until the new IEP is written. The district special education department will provide appropriate staff to help meet the needs of the special education student placed in the Alternative Program by an IEP modification. No student found eligible under IDEA will be placed in the Alternative Program until review/revision of the IEP is completed by the student's IEP committee.
4. ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL CURRICULUM:
Each student assigned to the Alternative Program by the school board shall have an Individual Instruction Plan (IIP) and IEP, if applicable, which was developed by the screening committee and IEP committee, if applicable, from his/her home sch ool. The instructional emphasis shall be on academic basic skills in limited content areas (Math, Science, English, and Social Studies), career orientation, and behavior modification. However, to the extent practical, the student's individual needs above the basics shall be addressed. Individual grade-level assignments, which parallel those of the students in the regular classrooms, shall be followed when possible. The students shall be tested on the subject area learning objectives at intervals to coincide with regular grading periods of the school district. Progress reports and grade reports (report cards) shall be issued to the student each academic term.
Computer assisted instruction will be employed when available and appropriate to the instructional needs of those in the program. Counseling shall be provided on a weekly basis with a focus on behavior modification, career orientation, and personal needs.
The Ocean Springs School District shall provide a program of GED preparatory instruction as part of the Alternative School Program. The program shall be administered in accord with Senate Bill 2855(1997).
As mandated by Senate Bill 2855 the following shall apply:
- Students enrolled in the Ocean Springs GED Program shall not be classified as dropouts and the Ocean Springs School District shall continue to receive MAEP funding for the students while they are enrolled in the GED Program.
- Students placed in the GED Program shall not be eligible to participate in regular academic courses or other programmatic activities within the school district, including athletics, choir, band, or any other extracurricular activities; except that a GED student may participate in existing job and skill development programs or in programs developed in conjunction with the GED Program and the Vocational Education Director.
- The Ocean Springs School District will contract with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for the purpose of GED testing.
Qualification of Students for the Ocean Springs GED Program
Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for the GED Program:
- The student must be a least 16 years of age;
- The student must be at least two (2) grade levels behind or have acquired less than four (4) Carnegie units;
- The student must have taken every opportunity to continue to participate in course work leading to a regular high school diploma;
- Students that have been referred to the Alternative Education Program for disciplinary reasons shall not be eligible for placement in the GED Program until behavioral modification goals for exiting the Alternative Education Program have been attained.
- Students must be eligible to attend school in the Ocean Springs School District and meet district attendance and discipline policy.
- Students will be required to take the TABE Locator Assessment
- Students must commit to attending the GED Program for a minimum of twenty hours per week and maintain 7.5 hours of employment or community service or full time placement in the GED program.
Placement in the Ocean Springs GED Program
Recommendation for student placement in the Ocean Springs GED Program will be made by a committee of school staff consisting of campus administrators, counselors, classroom teachers and support staff. Documentation of the committee recommendation shall be maintained for each student.
The recommendation for placement in the Ocean Springs GED Program must be approved by the Superintendent or the Assistant Superintendent of the Ocean Springs School District.
Students placed in the Ocean Springs School District GED Program must have written parental or guardian consent prior to placement in the program.
Documentation of parental consent for placement will be maintained for each student.
Students placed in the Ocean Springs School District Program will have an
Individual Education and Career Plan developed at the time of placement that emphasizes academic/instructional needs, job readiness skills, and work experience options.
Instructional Staff for the Ocean Springs GED Program
Qualified instructional staff will be assigned to instruct and supervise GED classes Monday through Friday during regular school hours.
Teachers employed in the GED Program by the Ocean Springs School District must meet minimum teacher licensure requirement of the Mississippi Department of Education.
The Ocean Springs District GED Program shall meet the “Minimum Guidelines for Implementing a GED Program in Mississippi School Districts” specified in State Board Policy IDDI-2. MS CODE 37-13-92 and 37-35-1 through 11
Students found eligible under IDEA assigned to the program by an IEP committee will be provided a special education teacher to assist as needed and as prescribed by his/her Individualized Educational Plan.
5. ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
Alternative Program classes shall meet Monday through Friday following the beginning and dismissal times of Ocean Springs High School. Instruction of the student shall be scheduled to reflect the Individual Instructional Plan; and the IEP, if applicable,will require full-day attendance with a rigorous workload and minimal time off. Lunch will be scheduled by the Alternative Education Center principal in coordination with the OSHS. All school district holidays shall be observed by the Alternative Program. Students shall be in a supervised status at all times. Rest room and outside breaks shall be scheduled at appropriate intervals. Emergency situations will be addressed according to the judgment of the Alternative Education Center principal and staff.
6. REASSIGNMENTS TO THE REGULAR EDUCATION CLASSROOM:
The Board recognizes that the laws of the state of Mississippi provide for the assignment of students to the Alternative Education Center in a number of ways and as such, different classes or categories of students are established depending upon the reason for assignment. The district strives to assure equal treatment of students similarly situated in each class/category.
The Board further acknowledges that students assigned to the Alternative Education Center for disciplinary reasons have disrupted the educational environment and the students have failed to comply with the rules, regulations, and policies of the Ocean Springs School District, as well as, in some instances the laws of the state of Mississippi.
Students assigned to the Alternative Education Center for the first time and removed from the regular school program/campus for disciplinary reasons shall complete 80%of the time for which he/she was assigned to the Alternative Education Center prior to being considered for early release or return to the regular school program/campus, unless a Court of competent jurisdiction orders an earlier release or an earlier release is required by IDEA or other applicable federal and state laws.
A student who has been assigned to the Alternative Education Center for the first time due to expulsion or suspension may request a release from the Alternative Education Center with a return to the regular educational program/class prior to the expiration of the time period for which he/she was initially assigned to the Alternative Education Center. Any request for an early release and return to the regular educational program/campus shall be in accordance with this policy and shall be evaluated by a Screening Committee consisting of the home school principal, Alternative Education Center principal and guidance counselor. An early return to the regular school program/campus is neither guaranteed nor automatic.
The following criteria shall be used in evaluating a request for the early return of a student:
a. Grades achieved while in attendance at the Alternative Education Center;
b. Attendance at the Alternative Education Center;
c. Student's achieving and maintaining the highest level of behavioral leveling system as implemented by the Alternative Education Center Administrator;
d. Whether a change in IEP is recommended or necessary;
e. Recommendation of the Alternative Education Center principal and counselor;
f. The nature of the offense committed by the student which resulted in the placement of the student in the Alternative Education Center; and,
g. The reason for placement in the Alternative Education Center.
A majority of the Screening Committee shall determine whether or not the child shall be recommended for early release. Only students who have been assigned to the Alternative Education Center for the first time shall be considered for early release from the Alternative Education Center and return to the regular school program/campus. Students who are enrolled in the Alternative Education Center by parental placement shall also be considered for early release.
7. RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM:
All rules and regulations of the regular program shall be adhered to by students in the Alternative Program. Special rules and regulations shall be developed as needed to ensure that a safe and orderly climate is maintained which promotes a healthy learning environment. Disruptive behavior, which interferes with the positive and orderly operation of the facility, shall not be allowed and shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action. Students and parents, guardians, or custodians shall be advised of rules, regulations, and consequences pertaining to the alternative school.
8. DUE PROCESS--EXPULSION HEARING:
Any student in the Alternative Program who engages in a violent or criminal activity during school-related time shall be recommended for expulsion from the program and from the school district. As required by state law, the police shall be notified. The due process provisions of School Board Policies JCAA, JDAA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and IDEA, shall be followed. If probable cause exists, case shall be referred to youth court.
9. PERSONNEL:
Personnel shall be contracted to work in the Alternative Program on an as needed basis. Personnel shall possess appropriate certification for the performance of duties assigned. The general supervision of the Alternative Program shall be provided by the principal of the Alternative Education Center. The principal of the Alternative Education Center shall be the reporting principal for personnel employed in the Alternative Program. The student-teacher ratio shall not exceed fifteen to one (15:1) without the expressed consent of the Commission on School Accreditation.
10. FACILITIES:
The Alternative Education Center is located at 2318 Government Street, west of the Ocean Springs High School North Building.
ADOPTED: 02/09/2010