Alternative/non-traditional education schools and programs are an option for students who may experience difficulty in the traditional setting. These students may require creative, innovative, and structured alternatives within a different educational setting.
The Georgia Alternative Education Program (GAEP) Standards are designed to improve alternative education programs through improvement and accountability. They serve as a tool for identifying strengths and areas needing improvement for each alternative education program or school within a school district. The GAEP Standards describe what Georgia's alternative programs and schools need to know, understand, and be able to do beyond the Georgia Standards of Excellence. They enhance opportunities for Georgia's alternative/non-traditional programs to provide standards-based learning in order to make education work for all Georgia's students.
Alternative/non-traditional education schools and programs offer these options to students, as it recognizes that a one model approach is not effective in meeting the goal of making all Georgia students college and career ready.
According to Georgia’s Alternative
Education Program (GAEP) Standards, an effective alternative education school or program:
GAEP Standard 1: Conducts routine and systematic
program evaluations to improve educational programs and services
GAEP Standard 2: Implements a transition process to
support a seamless entry to the GAEP and a seamless return to the traditional home
school or external agency which includes a plan for transition success
GAEP Standard 3: Provides students with opportunities
to maintain or accelerate their current progress toward graduation
GAEP Standard 4: Develops and implements a graduation plan for each
student
GAEP Standard 5: Communicates effectively and efficiently
GAEP Standard 6: Supports the success of students with
a counseling program that is grounded in evidence-based practices to address
the academic, social and emotional success of students
GAEP Standard 7: Facilitates the success of students
with a social work program that is responsive, rigorous, and emphasizes
intervention and prevention services
GAEP Standard 8: Supports the academic success of students with the
effective implementation of a rigorous instructional framework aligned with the
Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE)
GAEP Standard 9: Supports the academic success of
students with the effective implementation of a rigorous, data-driven digital
and virtual learning program aligned to state content standards
Georgia's Alternative/Non-traditional Education Program is designed to provide some program flexibility at the local level. Local school systems may collaborate with other districts, regional educational service agencies (RESAs), or contract with an external vendor to provide services.
A local school system may provide the following:
The alternative education program may be a standalone school, a program within a school, or a school with multiple locations.