Alternative Education 2007 - 2008
Corporation Name:
 Goshen Community Schools
Corporation Number:
 2315
Program Name:
 Opportunity Knocks
Program Number:
 4
Address :
 401 Lincolnway East
City :
 Goshen
State :
INDIANA
Zip:
46526
Alt Ed. Contact Person :
 Lori Shreiner
Contact Phone Number:
574-533-8651
Extension :
2214
Contact Fax Number:
 574-536-1567
Contact Email Address:
lshreiner@goshenschools.org

Additional participating school corporation number(s):

Joint 1: Joint 2: Joint 3: Joint 4: Joint 5:
Joint 6: Joint 7: Joint 8: Joint 9: Joint 10:

1. Describe your role (choose one): 

Corporation Administrator

Principal

 Lead Teacher Counselor Other

2. Of the students served, specify the number identified as eligible for reimbursement funding based on the following criteria by grade at the time of entry into the program. For a-e, each student should be counted in only one category.

a. Student intends to withdraw or has withdrawn before graduation.

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total



b. Student has failed to comply academically and would benefit from instruction offered in a manner different from the manner of instruction available in a traditional school.

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total



c. Student is a parent or expectant parent and is unable to regularly attend the traditional school program.

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total



d. Student is employed and the employment is necessary for support of the student or the student’s immediate family and/or interferes with a part of the student’s instructional day.

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total



e. The student is a disruptive student (as defined in IC 20-30-8-2).

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total

Outcome Data

 

3. Of the students served above, indicate the number of students for each category a-h. Each student should be counted in only one category.

a. Students who received a high school diploma.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student


b. Students who attained goals identified in their Individual Service Plan (ISP).

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student


c. Students who made satisfactory progress toward goals identified in their ISP.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student



d. Students who did not make satisfactory progress toward goals identified in their ISP but remained in the alternative education program.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student



e. Students who earned a GED.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student



f. Students who transferred/returned to other school setting prior to completing alt ed program.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student



g. Students who dropped out of alt ed program, not returning to any educational setting.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Student



h. Students expelled from alt ed program, not returned to any educational setting.

 
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
Students

 


4. Write a one paragraph description of your program's mission and how it functions.

Opportunity Knocks was created in order to provide individualized academic services and support to about 20 Goshen High School freshmen who need an alternative school setting. The OK program provides standards-based curriculum in three content areas (English, Algebra, and Orientation to Careers). The curriculum is individualized through PLATO, an online curriculum provider, which is supplemented by offline work provided by the instructors. OK staff members strive to devlop positive working relationships with the OK students and provide them with support in their transition from middle school to high school. OK students work on both social and academic goals.


5. Site or location. Check the one that best represents the main location of your program.

Classroom Within Traditional School

Community Site

Detention Center

Education Center

School Within School

Separate School Corporation Facility

Vocational/Career Center

Mall

6. Identify your program's measurable goals. Choose at least 2 goals (one of which must be academic) and record the data source, baseline, and target. On next year's grant, you will report if the goal was met and explain any shortfalls.


Academic Goals
Data
Source
Baseline
Target
Increase the percent of eligible seniors who graduate.
Graduation rate for the corporation will improve.
Increase the number of students on the GED track earning a GED.
Average number of credits earned per student per semester will increase.
Percent of students in program that improve their scale score on the LA portion of ISTEP + /GQE will increase.
Percent of students in program that improve their scale score on the Math portion of ISTEP + /GQE will increase.
Percent of students achieving 'pass' or 'pass+' on both portions of ISTEP+ will increase.
Percent of students in program promoted to next grade level will increase.
Increase percentage of students in program that graduate with a Core 40, academic honors, or technical honors diploma.

Goals

Credits earned in 2006-2007 = 2 per student per semester. New goal = 3 per student per semester. Improved scale score on 2005-2006 OK students on LA ISTEP/GQE was 73%. (The increase is based on scores from 9th grade ISTEP to 10th grade ISTEP/GQE. This covers when students were in OK.) We will gather data on 2006-2007 OK students in the fall of 2007 (when they take ISTEP/GQE). Goal for these students is 75%. The goal for 2007-2008 OK students will be 80%. (Data can be collected in fall of 2009.)




Behavioral Goals
Data
Source
Baseline
Target
The average daily attendance rate at the program will improve.
Increase the percent of students who have fewer behavioral referrals in the alt program than during the year prior to admission.
Number of dropouts from the alternative program will decrease.
Percent of students placed in the alternative program more than once for behavioral reasons will decrease.
Percent of students in the alternative program having < 2 days ISS per year will increase.
Decrease the number of suspensions in the corporation.
Decrease the number of expulsions in the cooperation.

Goals



Social/self-Managed Goals
Data Source
Baseline
Target
Increase percent of students who rate their overall satisfaction with the alternative program as satisfactory or very satisfactory.
Increase percent of students who complete a job, internship or service learning project while in the alternative education program.
Increase percent of students who attain all goals on their ISP.
Increase percent of students enrolled in post secondary education (including technical programs).
Increase the percent of students remaining drug free while in the alternative education program.

Goals

 

7. How would you best describe the primary focus of your alternative school or program? (Choose One)

A short-term placement of < 15 days for students who have been disruptive, possibly as an alternative to suspension/expulsion, or a Detention Center. The program keeps these students involved in education so that they do not lose out on instructional time while suspended, expelled, or involved with the juvenile justice system.

To bring students who have not passed necessary state tests, who have failing grades, or who are in need of credits back to the level of their peers. The school personnel works with students until they have reached the academic level at which they are supposed to be.

To deal with students who have had behavioral/discipline issues ("disruptive students"). The purpose is to remove these students from the traditional classroom to modify their behavior so that they can return to the traditional classroom, while at the same time keeping the students tied to an educational program.

To prepare students for life after school by helping them finish their academic studies and teaching them to be productive members of the community. The alternative school serves students who have withdrawn or intend to withdraw from school; are parents or expectant parents; are employed during the school day; or those who have not complied academically because of one of the three previous causes.

8. What is your student/teacher ratio (ex: 8: 1):

* Licensed teacher = 1
* Teacher's aide = .33

 

9. Students typically attend the alternative education program for: Check the one(s) from each column that best apply.

Hours Per Day

Days Per Week

2 hours

3-4 hours

5-6 hours

Extended day

Other: Specify

1-3 days/wk

4 days/wk

5 days/wk

Saturday or summer program

Other: Specify

 

10. Students typically remain in the program: Check the ONE that best applies.

Less than 15 days

15 days to 1 semester

1 semester - 1 year

More than 1 year

 

11. What type of curriculum, instructional materials, and assessments are used in the program? Check all that apply.

Core 40 option
Academic Honors option
General Diploma option
Traditional school curriculum
Curriculum developed specifically for alternative education
Video/audio tapes
GED prep
Course packets

Portfolio Assessments
ISTEP+/GQE
Other standardized test
Classroom assessments
Books other than traditional textbooks
Magazine/newspapers
Computer based (mastery)
Lessons
Prepackaged programs

Other, specify:

12. How does the program meet the academic needs of the students? Check all that apply.

Study skills training
Academic remediation
Self-paced/accelerated instruction
Individualized instruction
Differentiated instruction
Small group instruction
Large group instruction
Cooperative learning
Post-secondary dual enrollment opportunities

Computer-assisted instruction
Video based instruction
Service learning opportunities
Independent projects
Vocational education
Peer tutoring
Mentoring
Field trips


Other, specify:

 

13. How does the program meet the behavioral needs of the students? Check all that apply.

Level system
Point system
Behavior management technique(s)
Life skills training
Drug/alcohol prevention groups
Mentoring
Required Employment
Community service opportunities

Anger management courses
Pregnancy prevention/parenting course
Social/emotional curriculum
School counselor/social worker
Conflict resolution training
Violence prevention training
Mental health services

 
Other, specify:

 

14. How does the program meet the social/family-related needs of the students? Check all that apply.

Child care available
Life skills training
Parenting programs
Housing assistance
Medicaid/Hoosier Healthwise
Mentoring

Family counseling
Family literacy programs
Job assistance/placement
WIC or Food Assistance
Mental Health Services
Vocational education
Other, specify:

15. Estimate session times, days, and number of students for the 2007-2008 school year.

 
Session Start and Stop Times
e.g., 7:30-12:00
Total Days Program Will Operate this year
Avg. No. of Students Enrolled and Attending per day This year
Morning
Afternoon
Evening

 

16. Student entrance criteria. Check all that apply.

Student intends to withdraw or has withdrawn before graduation.
Student has not compiled academically and would benefit from alternative instruction.
Student is a parent or an expectant parent unable to regularly attend traditional school.
Student is employed and employment is necessary to support student or family.
Student is a disruptive student (as defined in IC 20-10.1-4.6-1.6).

 

17. If students attend the alternative education program for a period less than that required for a traditional Instructional day by IC 20-10.0-2-1 (5 hours of instructional time for grades 1-6 and 6 hours for grades 7-12), does your program: Check all that apply.

File a shortened school day form
Return students to the traditional classroom
Offer post-secondary dual credit opportunities
Link to an ICE program
Link to required employment, no credit

Link to service learning
Link to internships
Link to community service opportunities
Link to vocational/career program
Other, specify: