| The purpose of this research was to examine two public, off-site, self-maintaining alternative high schools in Pennsylvania to determine the common characteristics and practices that are utilized with at-risk students. After an extensive survey of all alternative schools in Pennsylvania, two schools were chosen for case studies. The schools were selected based on their use of differing curricular approaches.;Descriptive case studies were conducted in both alternative high schools. The first school in the study utilized a multi-curricular approach to educating at-risk students. The second school in the study utilized a single curricular approach: vocational/technical based. The study examined program designs and student and teacher perceptions of the alternative schools. Program designs were examined as they related to current research on effective schools and the education of students at-risk and the student and teacher perceptions of each curricular approach. Data sources included individual and focus group interviews with teachers, administrators and students, as well as student surveys and several full-day observations.;Results of the research indicated that the unique and individual needs of at-risk students required a variety of programs in order to provide successful academic and emotional growth. The vocational component of alternative school programs is successful with some students, but may have omitted the needs of some at-risk students if no other program is available. Similarly, the construction of behavior modification programs for students at-risk is more effective when approached with individual student differences at the core. Finally, the efficacy of separating at-risk students from their peer group in the home school may be diminished by the negative effect such separation has on students' perceptions of themselves.;Further study is recommended to determine the benefit of Pennsylvania's goal of short-term placements in alternative education program for at-risk students. Longitudinal study in the area of student achievement after high school is also recommended to correlate the effectiveness of the different types of alternative programs operating in Pennsylvania. Finally, as the number of students identified as at-risk increases, further study into the ways in which these students needs can be met in the "traditional" high school is essential. |
