Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 3 - Board Policies › Chapter 7 - Alternate Education Programs › Rule 7-3-7.1 - Guidelines

Current through June 25, 2024
1. The alternative school program is defined
				through written board-approved policies and procedures that define and provide
				appropriate educational opportunities for the categories of students to be
				served. Further, the program must meet the requirements of Mississippi Code
				Section
				37-13-92.
2. The district has and follows
				written procedures which meet the federal guidelines outlined in
Goss vs Lopez
due process requirements for removal of
				a student from school for disciplinary reasons.
3. The curriculum and instructional
				methodology address the needs of students through an Individual Instructional
				Plan which emphasizes academic performance behavior modification, functional
				skills, and career education.
4.
				The student/teacher ratio in each classroom is no greater than 15:1 with a
				process for approving exceptions by the State Department of Education.
5. Adequate instructional staff is
				assigned to ensure the continuing education of students and classroom
				supervision at all times.
6.
				Certified teaching staff and other staff assigned to the alternative program
				have adequate credentials to achieve the stated mission of the program.
				Further, students assigned for a grading period or longer and receiving
				Carnegie unit credits will receive instruction from appropriately certified
				teachers.
7. When the alternative
				school program is housed in a free standing facility separate from the regular
				school program, there is a certified administrator assigned to supervise the
				program.
8. When the alternative
				school program is housed in an existing school, the safety of regular staff and
				students will be insured by appropriate supervision and isolation as necessary.
				When an alternative program is operated by two or more school districts,
				pursuant to a contract approved by the State Department of Education, the
				contract will indicate which school district will house and which district will
				operate the alternative education program.
9. Rules and regulations which address the
				unique needs of alternative program students have been developed and
				disseminated to parents and students.
10. The alternative school facilities are
				clean, safe and functional, and commensurate with facilities provided to other
				students by the local school district.
11. The school district is in compliance with
				applicable laws and State Department of Education guidelines for reporting
				information relating to the alternative program.
12. Cumulative records on each student placed
				in an alternative program remain at and are maintained by the sending school.
13. Personnel assigned to an
				alternative program will report any criminal activity or other unlawful
				activity committed on school property to the appropriate authority.
14. Students enrolled in alternative
				programs/schools, including those provided through contractual agreements among
				multidistrict will participate in the Mississippi Assessment System at sites
				determined by school officials and in accordance with established guidelines
				regarding student grade levels and eligibility.
Test results for these
				students will be reported in the home school district.
15. Evaluation of the student's progress will
				be conducted at regular intervals according to district policy and the
				appropriate records will be maintained and subject to the State Department of
				Education review.
16. The
				Individual Instruction Plan will provide full-day attendance with a rigorous
				workload and minimal non-instructional time.
17. Districts may select programs from
				options provided by the local school district, the Mississippi Department of
				Human Services (Division of Youth Services) or the youth court, and/or transfer
				to a community-based alternative school.
18. Alternative programs will provide:
a. a motivated and culturally diverse staff
b. counseling for parents and
				students
c. administrative and
				community support for the program.