THE IMPACT OF AN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM ON AT-RISK STUDENTS AT FISHER MIDDLE SCHOOL

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THE IMPACT OF AN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM ON
AT-RISK STUDENTS AT FISHER MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Janet S. Gleim
• Educational Leadership Program
• Dr. Ruth J. Palmer, Faculty Advisor
• The College of New Jersey
• July 20, 2004

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The Issue
Students with chronic school-related problems
are often disciplined with suspension, which is
primarily punitive in nature. Suspension does
not address the students problems, and may
actually reinforce negative behaviors. Alternativ
e learning programs may provide a therapeutic
solution to meet the needs of the at-risk
student without sacrificing the mainstream
learning environment of his peers.
The most difficult child to deal with is the one
who has nothing to lose.
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Purpose of the Research Study

• To determine changes in student and parent
  perceptions of students academic achievement,
  attitude, and behavior as a result of temporary
  placement in a new alternative learning program
  (ALP) at Fisher Middle School in Ewing, New
  Jersey.
• To determine the relative effectiveness of the
  ALP when compared to suspension.

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Research Questions

• What is the impact of an alternative learning
  program on student perceptions of their attitude,
  behavior, and achievement?
• Do parents of students with school-related
  problems perceive a positive impact on their
  childrens attitudes, behavior, and achievement
  as a result of the alternative learning program?
• Do students and their parents feel that an
  alternative learning program is more effective
  than suspension in producing positive changes in
  student attitude, behavior, and achievement?

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Theoretical Framework

• Students who do not thrive in traditional school
  settings may experience success in a smaller,
  more personalized setting.
• Successful alternative learning programs share
  these common characteristics
• Small class size
• Unique staffing
• Personalized instruction
• Individual accountability
• Well-defined entry and exit criteria
• Collaboration with other agencies

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Related Literature

• No single organizational model for alternative
  schools works in all settings (Weir, 1996)
• Most school districts face the challenge of
  educating students who fail to thrive in regular
  classrooms (MW Regional Laboratory, 2001)
• There were over 11,000 public alternative schools
  in 2000, compared to 450 in 1988 (Thomas, 2003)
• Alternative school designs represent varying
  degrees of departure from mainstream school
  designs (Raywid, 2001)

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Findings of Earlier Studies

• A well-designed alternative learning program will
  produce positive changes in student attitude and
  performance
• Even the best suspension program will not be as
  effective as a good alternative learning program

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Research Method

• Research Design
• Qualitative case study
• Objective and narrative data prior to and upon
  completion of the program
• Students and parents provided information about
• attitudes
• assessments of students' problems
• effectiveness of the ALP

• Participants
• Students in grades 6, 7, and 8
• Placed in the Fisher Middle School Alternative
  Learning Program for at least 45 days
• September, 2003, through February, 2004

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Data Collection Instruments

• Students Parents
• Pre-ALP Survey Pre-ALP Survey
• Pre-ALP Interview
• Post-ALP Survey Post-ALP Survey
• Post-ALP Interview

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Results and Findings

• 100 of the students and their parents expected a
  positive outcome from the ALP
• 100 of the students and 100 of the responding
  parents regarded the ALP experience as positive
  and beneficial
• Students experienced growth in these areas
• Self-Esteem / Motivation to Succeed
• Feelings about School
• Feelings about Relationships

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Discussion of the Results

• What was the impact of an alternative learning
  program on student perceptions of their attitude,
  behavior, and achievement?
• All of the participating students believe that
  their attitude about school, their classroom
  behavior, and their academic achievement improved
  as a result of their experience in the ALP.

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Did parents of students with school-related
problems perceive a positive impact on their
children as a result of the Alternative Learning
Program?

• All of the parents of participating students
  believed that their childrens behavior,
  attitude, and achievement improved as a result of
  their ALP experience. Parents feel that it is
  essential to keep children in school, learning,
  while their school-related issues are being
  addressed.

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Did students and their parents feel that the
Alternative Learning Program was more effective
than suspension?

• Both students and parents believed that the ALP
  was more effective than either in-school or
  out-of-school suspension.
• Students and parents believed that suspension
  compounds students academic problems and fails
  to address behavior and attitude problems.

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THE IMPACT OF AN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM ON
AT-RISK STUDENTS AT FISHER MIDDLE SCHOOL

• The FMS Alternative Learning Program is believed
  by students and parents to be an effective
  intervention, producing positive changes in
  attitude, behavior, and academic achievement more
  effectively than suspension.