ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PROGRAMS & DROPOUT PREVENTION
Adopted: 3-14-78
Revised: 11-16-05, 2-9-21
Philosophy:
The South Sanpete Board of Education endorses the concept of alternative educational experiences for students who are having difficulty succeeding in their traditional school programs and for other extenuating circumstances. Recognizing the School District’s philosophy to meet the educational needs of all students within its boundaries, an alternative educational program is an important part of the total educational program.
Policy:
The South Sanpete Board of Education delegates the responsibility to the Superintendent and principals of the District to organize, maintain, and approve alternative programs within the District and to provide educational programs for those students who are not successful in traditional school settings and for those students who desire a different curriculum not offered in traditional school settings. The programs offered by the District or through the District shall fulfill those educational requirements as outlined in Policy IKF. Students in alternative programs shall be awarded credits and diplomas based upon meeting these outlined requirements which meet the approval of school, District and state standards. The staff assigned to work with alternative programs shall meet the certification standards of the District and state. Additional costs for these alternative programs, outside a traditional student’s program, will be the responsibility of the student.
Identification of “Designated students”
The District shall identify all students: who have withdrawn from school before earning a diploma, and who have been dropped from average daily membership, and whose graduating class (when entering grade 9) have not yet graduated. The District shall further identify students who are at risk of meeting these criteria.
Utah Code § 53G-9-802 (2020)
Utah Code § 53G-9-801(3) (2020)
Dropout Prevention
The District shall provide dropout prevention and recovery services to designated students, including:
- Engaging with or attempting to engage with designated students;
- Consulting with designated students and develop a learning plan to identify:
- Barriers to regular school attendance;
- An attainment goal through enrollment in education programs; and
- Means for achieving the attainment goal through enrollment in one or more of the programs described below in Flexible Enrollment Options.
- Monitoring a designated student’s progress toward reaching the designated student’s attainment goal; and
- Providing tiered interventions for a designated student who is not making progress toward reaching the student's attainment goal.
The District shall provide dropout prevention and recovery services throughout the calendar year to students who reside within the District and become designated students while enrolled within the District.
Utah Code § 53G-9-802(1)(a)-(c) (2020)
The District shall determine if a designated student made a year’s worth of progress toward an attainment goal during the year and if membership days for a designated student are in accordance with the District’s school schedule and enrollment policies.
Utah Admin. Rules R277-606-3(2)(a) (October 6, 2016)
Flexible Enrollment Options
The District shall provide flexible enrollment options for a designated student that are tailored to the designated student’s learning plan and include two or more of the following:
- Enrollment in a traditional program in a school within the District;
- Enrollment in the District in a nontraditional program;
- Enrollment in a program offered by a private provider that has entered into a contract with the District to provide educational services; or
- Enrollment in a program offered by another local educational agency.
Utah Code § 53G-9-802(2)(a) (2020)
Designated Student Enrollment Options
A designated student may enroll in:
- A program offered by the District; or
- The Statewide Online Education Program.
The District shall make its best effort to accommodate a designated student’s choice of enrollment.
