Providing educational enrichment for students expelled from traditional school settings
Abstract
Middle school students who have been expelled from Metropolitan School District in Indianapolis are given the chance to reenter the district without falling behind in school. The non-traditional Opportunity School Program provides academic and social skills development, as well as service-learning activities, to keep students on track. This effective practice was shared by Kristine Myers, Youth Support Administrator of Opportunity School.Issue
Students who have been expelled from school greatly benefit from interim academic and social skills development.Action
Opportunity School provides educational enrichment for middle school (6th - 8th grades) students who have been expelled from standard school settings.Placement in Opportunity School is voluntary, requiring the signed approval of a student and her parents/guardians. In addition, the following conditions must be met:- Students willingly accept placement in Opportunity School
- Disrespect of Opportunity School staff or fellow students is not tolerated and is grounds for dismissal from the program
- Students are not allowed to bring personal items onto school grounds.
- One hour of math instruction
- Two hours of language arts and character education
The Opportunity School staff understands that expectations for the students must remain high, or else they are likely to fall into a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure. Student success is the result of their own determination, and the engaging advocacy of their instructors.
In addition to the three hours of daily in-class sessions, students are required to complete 12-15 hours of service activities each week. The student service-learning requirement has been credited in part for Opportunity School's success.
At the beginning of each student's term, s/he completes a pre-service survey to determine interest in various service activity options. The surveys also establish a baseline measure of the students' feelings about themselves and service involvement. Students later take a post-term assessment to compare their level of growth since the baseline measurement.
Students are allowed to offer suggestions for service assignments, but the school administrator makes the final decision based on the suitability of a match with certain organizations. Meyers has found it particularly helpful to make personal connections with local non-profit organizations to ensure that matches are suitable and that organizations understand the parameters of the program.
Some of the organizations that students have served with include:
- Senior centers
- YMCA
- Humane society
- Churches
- Day care centers
Students engage in service activities on their own time, outside of Opportunity School. Only one student is placed for each assignment. This reduces the potential for distraction or inappropriate behavior.
At each service site that a student is assigned to, a supervisory point of contact is established. That person monitors the student's service hours, and the Opportunity School administrator collects their signed forms each month. In the coming year, Opportunity School will be utilizing a VISTA volunteer to assist in placement and monitoring of service-learning activities.
Context
Metropolitan School District, of Washington Township, supports three middle schools, which serve approximately 2,300 students. Opportunity School classes are held at Northview Middle School. An unused industrial arts room provides the space for the mathematics instruction as well as space for presenters. A nearby computer lab is also used for the Language Arts instruction.
The Opportunity School organizing committee first met in August 2004. The first term began with eight students on November 1, 2004. At one point, there were as many as 22 students enrolled.
Opportunity School employs three full-time staff:
- Math instructor with special education background
- Administrator / character education / language arts (computer-driven)
- Special education assistant
- When student numbers exceed 15, an additional instructor is added
A state education official determines the outcome of student expulsion hearings. If a student is expelled, the duration may last for either one semester or a full academic year. At that point a student will be considered for enrollment in Opportunity School.
As proscribed by Indiana's zero tolerance law, students who are expelled as the result of a weapons violation are not eligible for Opportunity School. Aside from that, the school has had success with students who have been expelled for threatening or actual violence, and with students who have a pattern of chronic disruption. Students with special needs who have been expelled are also accepted. In such cases, the Opportunity School works closely with the teacher of record, or the special education department, to ensure the student's needs are met.
Outcome
Since Opportunity School's inaugural year was only a partial term, complete student progress assessments were not available. Benchmarks have been established to record and analyze student growth beginning the following school year.
Preliminary results suggest that students who regularly attended Opportunity School increased their reading and language arts skills by one or more grade levels. In addition,
- Writing skill quality and quantity greatly improved.
- Students showed an ability to express their opinions in a constructive manner.
Evidence
One hundred percent of the students who completed the program satisfactorily were recommended and approved to move to their next grade level for the 2005-06 school year. Students will be tracked and data will be gathered as to their success in returning to the regular class setting.
Opportunity School students have an average attendance rate of 96 percent, which is a favorable comparison to the 97.3 percent average attendance rate for traditional middle school students in the district.
Posted On
August 19, 2005For More Information
Related Practices
Related sites
Indiana Department of Education, Division of Service Learning
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse