General Considerations

Questions and information that you should find useful in developing your own program

What are alternative learning experiences?

Alternative learning experiences (referred to as ALE ) are learning experiences for public school students that are primarily characterized by learning activities that occur away from the regular public school classroom setting.  The specific requirements and expectations of these away-from-school learning activities are detailed in a written student learning plan (WSLP) developed and supervised by a public school teacher.

What are the regulatory requirements for alternative learning experiences?

The regulatory requirements for ALE are spelled out in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-121-182.  These rules have been in existence for many years, and were most recently amended in August 2005.  The ALE rules are school finance rules, allowing school districts to establish programs and claim basic education funding for student learning experiences that occur primarily away from school.  This is in contrast to the more commonly used ‘seat time’ requirements for basic education funding, where school districts claim basic funding only for enrolled students who are expected to actually attend school each day for a specified number of hours.  In addition to the requirements of WAC 392-121-182, ALE programs must comply with all other existing rules and laws governing public education in Washington State.

How is ALE different from home-based instruction?

Although ALE is similar to home-based education in that it is characterized by learning that occurs away from school, it is not home-based instruction.  ALE is a public school learning experience which is planned, developed, and supervised by a public school teacher.  Home-based education is subject to specific state laws (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.200 and RCW 28A.225.010) and planning and supervision falls under the authority of the parent, not the school district.  Home-based students may enroll part-time in public school classes and programs, including ALE. 

What are the different types of ALE?

Because of the flexible and innovative nature of ALE, it is difficult to categorize these learning options or programs into specific types.  In general, though, there are three primary types of ALE programs: contract-based learning, digital/online learning, and parent partnership programs.  In some programs there is significant overlap among these three types.  For example, a parent partnership program could offer contract-based learning to high school students, and offer courses using digital or online means.  The following is a brief, generalized overview of these three types.

Contract-based learning—usually limited to secondary students, and often used for credit retrieval or credit acceleration.  Many alternative middle and high schools offer some form of contract-based learning, as do a smaller number of comprehensive high schools.

Digital/online learning—to date, a small number of digital/online learning programs, or virtual schools, have emerged in Washington State.  Many schools offer digital/online learning courses, but claim enrollment for only the hours the student is in an on-site classroom.  Online learning only becomes ALE when the student is engaged in learning away from school, and the school district is using the time the student engages in this away-from-school learning as part of the full-time equivalence (FTE) claimed for basic education apportionment.  Digital/online learning that occurs solely in a classroom setting under the direct supervision of teacher is not ALE.

Parent partnership programs—these programs offer a significant role for parents in the development and provision of ALE.  Because of this, many students in parent partnership programs may have been receiving home-based instruction prior to enrolling in the ALE program.  But, as noted above, this type of ALE is not home-based instruction, because the school district is ultimately responsible for student learning, not the parent.

 

Work based learning is another type of learning program that occurs away from the regular classroom setting.  How is work-based learning different from ALE?

Separate laws and rules govern work based learning.  There are substantial differences between work based learning and ALE in how student FTE is calculated, and in how credit is issued..  ALE programs that provide for work based learning should be clear about these distinctions and the additional requirements of work based learning pursuant to WAC 180-50-315.  Programs should appropriately apply the work based learning rules and not the ALE rules when claiming enrollment for work based learning programs.  More information about work based learning can be found at http://www.k12.wa.us/CareerTechEd/default.aspx. 

The ALE rules require that the learning plan identify all instructional materials essential to successful completion of the goals and objectives of the learning plan.  What does “identification of instruction materials” mean?  Would a response of “a variety of textbooks and workbooks” suffice? (WAC 392-121-182(4)(e))

Identification of instructional materials infers a list of the essential instructional materials that the student would use to accomplish the learning goals.  For example, if the goal was:

• Sam will develop an understanding of the following math concepts by the end of the month.
• Understand place value in whole numbers.
• Understand sequential relationships among whole numbers.
• Understand the meaning of addition and subtraction and how they relate to one another.
• Understand how to recognize and create equivalent mathematical models and representations in familiar situations.
• A listing of the instructional materials might be: Bridging Mathematics, Houghton Mifflin; Saxon Math Workbook, Level 3; manipulative.
• Sam may end up using additional instructional materials during the month to supplement and enrich his learning--watching a related math show on television, using an instructional video given to him by a friend, practicing with flash cards that he created himself.  The list for the WSLP consists of the essential materials needed to accomplish the goals. 

The statement “a variety of textbooks and workbooks” would not meet the requirement of identification of instructional materials.

Do all instructional materials used in an ALE program need to be approved by the school board? (WAC 392-121-182(3)(b))

Washington State law (RCW 28A.320.230) requires each school district board of directors to adopt policy on the selection and deletion of instructional materials.  Materials used in ALE programs are subject to this requirement.  Whether or not the use of a particular instructional resource must be approved by the school board depends on the school district policy. 

The ALE rules state that the school district board of directors “shall adopt written policies for each alternative learning experience program.”  Does this mean that a district must have a separate board policy for each of the ALE programs operated by the district? (WAC 392-121-182(2))

A school district may have a single board policy in place that references more than one ALE program.  However, the school district board of directors should develop separate policies for each ALE program if these programs operate in distinctly different ways from each other.

If you have more questions please feel free to call (509) 663-7947