Alternative Education Program 2014-15

Program Information:

Corporation Name:
Indianapolis Public Schools

Corporation Number:
5385

Program Name:
Positive Supports Academy

Program Number:
184

Address :
3200 East Raymond

City :
Indianapolis

State :
INDIANA

Zip:
46203

Alt Ed. Contact Person :
Ann F. Hansen

Contact Phone Number:
317-226-4061

Extension :

Contact Fax Number:
317-226-4589

Contact Email Address:
hansena@myips

Website:

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. Indicate the grade levels served by the program. Check all that apply.

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

3. Estimate session times, days, and number of students for the 2016-2017 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

4. Write a short concise description of your program's mission and how the program functions (300-500 words).

Positive Supports Academy provides a full day of alternative instruction for students in grades 7-12 who have experienced significant failures in a traditional school setting due to their need of intensive, focused social and behavioral supports. These students manifest recurring behavioral, discipline and/or attendance issues that seriously impede their education. The mission of the Positive Supports Academy is develop personal responsibility in students by effectively addressing social and behavior issues through mental health, drug and character education services, so the learning process can take place. Students in the Positive Supports Academy would benefit from instructional strategies that are different from the traditional model, and work to mitigate the impact of disruptive students. Students will also take courses in drug education, character education and life skills development. Computerized self-paced instruction is also available through Edgenuity (for remediation and acceleration). Mental Health Services will also be provided through contracts and partnerships with local community health/mental health agencies. The program utilizes the Michigan Model for Health (focuses on developing knowledge and skills that promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles) to provide intensive mental health, drug and character education services to students.

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

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6. Identify your program's measurable goals for SY 2016-2017. Choose at least 2 goals (one of which must be academic) and record the data source, baselin5, and target. On next year's grant, you will report if the goal was met and explain any shortfalls. Record actual outcome for targets set last year.

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

A short-term placement at a Detention Center. The program keeps these students involved in educational programming that addresses skill deficits and individualizes instruction so they continue to progress academically and do not lose credits.
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. School personnel employ a variety of strategies to assess, remediate and accelerate learning for these students, with the goal of transitioning students to the traditional classroom setting when they have reached appropriate academic levels.
To deal with students who have had recurring behavioral/discipline issues (disruptive students). The purpose is to remove these students from the traditional classroom in order to modify their behavior so that they can return and be successful. These programs may operate as an alternative to expulsion, with the goal of transitioning students back to the traditional classroom setting when they have appropriately modified their behavior.
To prepare students for life after high school by helping them finish their academic studies and teaching them to be productive members of the community. Programming seeks to reengage disengaged students, prepare pregnant or parenting students, and assist students who must work to support themselves or their families by linking the academic programming with career and service learning opportunities.

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8. Indicate what your program does 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). Check all that apply.

Report a shortened school day Return students to the traditional school for the remainder of the day Offer post-secondary dual credit opportunities Link to an ICE program or work credit 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:

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

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

Total number of licensed teachers in the alternative education program

Of the teachers listed above, the number NOT in the alternative program full time.

Number of non-licensed aides working in the alternative program

10. How much do students typically attend the alternative education program for? Check the one(s) from each column that best apply.

Hours Per Day	Days Per Week
3-4 hours 5-6 hours Extended day Other: Specify	5 days/wk Saturday or summer program Other: Specify

11. 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

12. 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 Course packets Portfolio Assessments	ISTEP+/GQE/ECA Other Formal Assessments(NWEA, TABE, etc) Classroom assessments Books other than traditional textbooks Magazine/newspapers Computer-based (courseware): specify Virtual or Distance Education Packaged programs
Other, specify:

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

Study skills training Academic remediation/Tutoring Self-paced/accelerated instruction Individualized instruction Differentiated instruction Reading Development Project based learning Cooperative learning/ collaborative teams Post-secondary dual enrollment opportunities	Computer-assisted instruction Technology as a learning resources Service learning opportunities Authentic Instruction Career/Technical/Vocational education Peer tutoring Before or after school academic assistance Field trips
Other, specify:

14. How does the program meet other needs of students? Check all that apply.

Level system Point system Behavior management technique(s) Life skills training Drug testing or 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:

15. 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/Career exploration WIC or Food Assistance Mental Health Services Vocational education
Other, specify:

16. Indicate if your program has the following processes.

The school/program has understandable, well-publicized processes for parents/guardians to influence decisions and raise issues or concerns.	Yes No
The school/program has understandable, well-publicized processes for students to influence decisions and raise issues or concerns.	Yes No
The school/program has understandable, well-publicized processes for community members and/or community partners to provide input and raise issues or concerns.	Yes No

17. Student eligibility 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 20-30-8-2).