District Survey of Alternative Schools and Programs 2007

Attachment 2

District Survey of Alternative Schools and Programs: 2007-08

Questionnaire

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FORM APPROVED

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS O.M.B. No.: 1850–0733

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006–5651 EXPIRATION DATE: 10/2009

DISTRICT SURVEY OF ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS: 2007-08 DRAFT 08/07/2008

FAST RESPONSE SURVEY SYSTEM

This survey is authorized by law (P.L. 103-382). While participation in this survey is voluntary, your cooperation is critical to make the results of this survey comprehensive, accurate, and timely. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose unless otherwise compelled by law. (Public Law 107-279, Education Sciences Reform Act, Section 183.)

This survey is designed to be completed by the person or persons most knowledgeable about the alternative schools and programs in your school district. Please consult with others who can help provide the requested information.

LABEL

IF ABOVE DISTRICT INFORMATION IS INCORRECT, PLEASE UPDATE DIRECTLY ON LABEL.

Name of Person Completing This Form:

Title/Position:

Telephone Number: E-mail:

Best days and times to reach you (in case of questions):

THANK YOU. PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THE SURVEY FOR YOUR RECORDS.

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO: IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT:

Mail: Priscilla Carver (8096.16.03) Priscilla Carver at Westat

Westat 800-937-8281, Ext. 4596 or 301-279-4596

1650 Research Boulevard E-mail: priscillacarver@westat.com
Rockville, Maryland 20850-3195

Fax: 800-254-0984

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1850-0733. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: National Center for Education Statistics, 1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.

FRSS 96, XX/2008

INSTRUCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS FOR THIS SURVEY

Alternative schools and programs are designed to address the needs of students that typically cannot be met in regular schools. The students who attend alternative schools and programs are typically at risk of educational failure (as indicated by poor grades, truancy, disruptive behavior, pregnancy, or similar factors associated with temporary or permanent withdrawal from school).

Alternative schools are usually housed in separate facilities where students are removed from regular schools. Alternative programs are usually housed within regular schools.

For the purposes of this survey, include:

• only alternative schools or programs for at-risk students,

• only alternative schools or programs administered by your district,

• only alternative schools or programs where the majority of students attend for at least half of their instructional time,

• charter schools for students at risk of educational failure,

• alternative schools or programs (administered by your district) within criminal detention centers,

• community-based schools or programs (administered by your district but located within community organizations (e.g., Boys and Girls Clubs, community or recreational centers)), and

• alternative schools or programs that operate during weekday evenings or weekends.

For the purposes of this survey, exclude:

• alternative schools or programs that are not for at-risk students (e.g., gifted and talented programs, magnet schools),

• alternative schools or programs not administered by your district,

• alternative schools or programs where the majority of students attend for less than half of their instructional time,

• schools or programs that exclusively serve special education students,

• career/technical education programs (unless specifically designated for at-risk students),

• child care/day care centers,

• privately run sites contracted by your district,

• short-term in-school suspension programs (lasting 2 weeks or less), detention, or in-home programs for ill or injured students, and

• charter schools that are not for at-risk students.

The questions in this survey are about the 2007-08 school year.

For purposes of this survey, the terms enrolled, placed, and transferred are used interchangeably and may include parent or student involvement in the process used to determine attendance at an alternative school or program for at-risk students.

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) is a systematic process for describing problem behavior, identifying environmental factors and setting events that predict the problem behavior, and guiding the development of effective and efficient behavior support plans.

The term written learning plan, as used here, refers to a written document that states the educational goals of a student, similar to that of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that is developed for students in special education.

Before you answer the questions in this survey, please carefully read the instructions and definitions page.

I. Basic Information About Alternative Schools and Programs in Your District

1. During the 2007-08 school year, were there any alternative schools or programs in your district?

Yes 1 (Continue with question 2.)

No 2 (Stop. Complete respondent section on front and return questionnaire.)

2. How many alternative schools and programs were there in your district in 2007-08?

3. Of those schools and programs in question 2, how many were housed within a regular school?

4. Of the alternative schools and programs in your district in 2007-08, how many:

a. Operated as charter schools?

b. Were located in juvenile detention centers?

c. Used distance education as an instructional delivery mode?

5. Some school districts have alternative schools or programs designed to serve specific types of students at risk of educational failure (e.g., an alternative school solely for students with substance abuse problems). Not all districts will have such programs. In your district, were there any alternative schools or programs in 2007-08 designed solely for:

	Yes	No
a. Students who dropped out of regular school	1	2
b. Students with substance abuse problems	1	2
c. Students who were expelled or as an alternative to expulsion	1	2
d. Students who were involved with the criminal justice system	1	2
e. Students who were highly disruptive	1	2
f. Other(specify)	1	2

6. During the 2007-08 school year, what grades were taught in your district’s alternative schools and programs? (Circle all that apply.)

PK

K

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Ungraded

II. Enrollment

7. As of October 1, 2007, about how many students in your district were enrolled in alternative schools and programs? students

8. Of those students, about how many were special education students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? students

9. In any month during the 2007-08 school year, were any of your district’s alternative schools and programs unable to enroll new students because of staffing or space limitations?

Yes 1

No 2

III. Entry and Exit Procedures

10. Can students in your district be transferred to alternative schools and programs solely on the basis of any of the following reasons? (For purposes of this survey, the term “transferred” may include parent or student involvement in the decision-making process.) (Circle one on each line.)

	Yes	No
a. Possession or use of a firearm	1	2
b. Possession or use of a weapon other than a firearm	1	2
c. Possession, distribution, or use of alcohol or drugs (excluding tobacco)	1	2
d. Arrest or involvement with the criminal justice system	1	2
e. Physical attacks or fights	1	2
f. Disruptive verbal behavior	1	2
g. Chronic truancy	1	2
h. Continual academic failure	1	2
i. Pregnancy/teen parenthood	1	2
j. Mental health needs	1	2
k. Other(specify)	1	2

11. To what extent are students placed in alternative schools or programs through each of the following means? (Circle one on each line.)

Means of placement	Not at all	Small extent	Moderate extent	Large extent
a. Recommendation of district-level administrator (e.g., Director of Special Education or Director of Alternative Education)	1	2	3	4
b. Recommendation of regular school staff (e.g., teacher, administrator, or counselor)	1	2	3	4
c. Recommendation of a committee of teachers, administrators, and counselors (such as an education management team or IEP team)	1	2	3	4
d. Student request	1	2	3	4
e. Parent request	1	2	3	4
f. As a result of Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) (see the definition page)	1	2	3	4
g. Referral by the criminal justice system	1	2	3	4
h. Other(specify)	1	2	3	4

12. If a parent objects to a recommendation that a student be placed in an alternative school or program in your district, what does the district usually do? (Circle only one.)

Place the student despite parental objections 1

Resolve the dispute through due process 2

Withdraw placement recommendation 3

Other (specify) 4

13. Is it your district’s policy to allow students enrolled in alternative schools and programs to return to a regular school in your district? (Circle only one.)

Yes, for all students 1 (Continue with question 14.)

Yes, for some students 2 (Continue with question 14.)

No, never for any students 3 (Skip to question 15.)

14. According to your district’s policy, how important are each of the following in determining whether a student is able to return to a regular school? (Circle one on each line.)

Factor	Not important	Somewhat important	Very important
a. Improved grades	1	2	3
b. Improved attitude/behavior	1	2	3
c. Student motivation to return	1	2	3
d. Student readiness as measured by a standardized assessment	1	2	3
e. Availability of space in regular school	1	2	3
f. Approval of the regular school administrator or counselor	1	2	3
g. Approval of alternative school/program staff (e.g., teacher, administrator, or counselor)	1	2	3
h. Other(specify)	1	2	3

15. When students leave an alternative school or program in your district, to what extent do they leave because….(Circle one on each line.)

Exiting alternative school/program	Not at all	Small extent	Moderate extent	Large extent
a. they returned to regular school?	1	2	3	4
b. they graduated with a regular high school diploma?	1	2	3	4
c. they graduated with a nonstandard high school diploma or certificate of completion?	1	2	3	4
d. they transferred to an adult education or GED program?	1	2	3	4
e. they dropped out of school?	1	2	3	4
f. they were transferred to a criminal justice facility?	1	2	3	4
g. Other(specify)	1	2	3	4

16. Does your district have a database to track students after they leave alternative schools and programs?

Yes 1

No 2

IV. Teacher Training Requirements

17. Does your district have specific requirements for teaching in an alternative school or program, in addition to regular teacher requirements (e.g., specific education or training requirements)?

Yes 1

No 2

18. Does your district have ongoing professional development requirements for teaching in an alternative school or program, in addition to those required of all teachers?

Yes 1

No 2

V. Curriculum and Services Offered

19. Is a written learning plan required for students who are not special education students upon entry into an alternative school or program in your district? (For clarification on “written learning plan,” please refer to the definition page.)

Yes, for all students 1

Yes, for some students 2

No 3

20. Does your district collaborate with any of the following agencies to provide services to students in alternative schools and programs? (Circle one on each line.)

	Yes	No
a. Child protective services	1	2
b. Community mental health agency	1	2
c. Community organization (e.g., Boys & Girls Club, United Way, Lion’s Club)	1	2
d. Job placement center	1	2
e. Crisis intervention center	1	2
f. Drug and/or alcohol clinic	1	2
g. Family planning/child care/child placement agency	1	2
h. Health clinic or hospital	1	2
i. Criminal justice system	1	2
j. Parks and recreation department	1	2
k. Police or sheriff’s department	1	2
l. Other(specify)	1	2

21. According to district policy, are any of the following services or practices required to be made routinely available in alternative schools and programs? (Circle one on each line.)

	Yes	No
a. Smaller class size than regular schools	1	2
b. Remedial instruction for students performing below grade level	1	2
c. Credit recovery programs/opportunities	1	2
d. Academic counseling	1	2
e. Career counseling	1	2
f. Psychological counseling	1	2
g. Substance abuse counseling	1	2
h. Crisis/behavioral intervention	1	2
i. Social work services	1	2
j. Peer mediation	1	2
k. Extended school day or school year	1	2
l. Reduced school day or flexible schedule	1	2
m. Evening or weekend classes	1	2
n. Curricula leading toward a regular high school diploma	1	2
o. Preparation for the GED exam	1	2
p. Career/technical education or training	1	2
q. Opportunity to take classes at other schools, colleges, or local institutions	1	2
r. Security personnel on site	1	2
s. Opportunity for self-paced instruction	1	2
t. Opportunities for alternative modes of learning (e.g., Internet-based curriculum, group or service learning projects)	1	2
u. Other (specify)	1	2