POLICY STATEMENT

Alternate education school programs – Type 3 facilities – focus on the educational, social and emotional issues for those students whose needs are not being met in a traditional school program. An alternate education program provides its support through differentiated instruction, program delivery and enhanced counselling services based on student need.

RATIONALE

Students who attend alternate education school programs are most often the most vulnerable population in the school system. Alternate education school programs have disproportionate numbers of children and youth in care, aboriginal students, children and youth living in poverty or the street, gifted children who have difficulty in social situations, children and youth involved in drugs, alcohol and the sex trade and youth with mental health concerns. Alternate education programs offer an opportunity for these vulnerable and at-risk students to experience success.

LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS

The relevant sections of the School Act with respect to the alternate education programs include the following:

The preamble to the School Act states:

WHEREAS it is the goal of a democratic society to ensure that all its members receive an education that enables them to become literate, personally fulfilled and publicly useful, thereby increasing the strength and contributions to the health and stability of that society;

AND WHEREAS the purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable all learners to become literate, to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous and sustainable economy;

Section 85(2)(c)(iv)(A)
(1) For the purposes of carrying out its powers, functions and duties under this Act, a board has the power and capacity of a natural person of full capacity.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a board may, subject to this Act and the regulations, do all or any of the following:
    (c) make rules
        (iv) respecting the establishment, operation, administration and management of
            (A) schools operated by the board and educational programs provided by the board

POLICY

Alternate Education school programs must have a number of things in place to be deemed a Type Three facility and consequently have their students eligible for 1.0 FTE funding. Schools of Choice (Fine Arts Schools, French Immersion, etc.) and Provincial Resource Programs are not considered Type 3 facilities and are funded in a different manner)
Each Alternate Education Program will have:

1. An intake process to facilitate district referrals or self referral
2. A regularly reviewed learning plan for each student, whether it be an official Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a Student Learning Plan created by the school that clearly defines the objectives for the student, additional services provided as required, progress made, and any transition plans.
3. An exit strategy to facilitate the students transition either back into regular school system, continuing education centre, graduation or to work and to post secondary training and education.
4. Evidence of additional services as required by the student population (i.e. youth workers, drug and alcohol counsellors and/or sessions, etc...)

Funding

Non-graduate school-aged students that also meet the criteria for funding in the K-12 General funding policy, and are enrolled in a Type 3 facility, will be funded as 1.0 FTE. Adult and graduated school-aged students are funded on a per-course basis in accordance to the Adult Funding Policy and K-12 Funding Policy respectively. Supplemental funding for ESL, Aboriginal and/or Special Needs is provided if criteria are met in those respective policies. Funding amounts are published in the Operating Grants Manual.