Alternative Definition

California state law authorizes all school districts to provide for alternative schools. An alternative school is a school, or separate class groups within a school, that is operated in a manner designed to:

* Maximize the opportunity for students to develop the positive values of self-reliance, initiative, kindness, spontaneity, courage, resourcefulness, creativity, responsibility, and joy.

* Recognize that the best learning takes place when the student learns because of his/her desire to learn.

* Maintain a learning situation maximizing student self-motivation and encouraging the student in his/her own time to follow his/her interests. These interests may be conceived by him or her totally and independently or may result in whole or in part from a presentation by his or her teacher of choices of learning projects.

* Maximize the opportunity for the students, teachers, and parents to continuously react to the changing world, including, but not limited to, the community in which the school is located.

* In the event any parent, pupil, or teacher is interested in further information concerning alternative schools, the county superintendent of school and the administrative office of this district have copies of the law available for your information. This law particularly authorizes Interned persons to request the governing board of the district to establish alternative school program in each district.