Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools is beginning work toward implementing a new alternative education program through a request for a provider.
The division sent out a request for proposals for a new alternative education program May 23, with responses due by June 27. The request aims to identify qualified providers who can plan and implement a new program for students who learn in alternative ways.
The process of getting proposals from new providers would outline the types of learners who would benefit most from the program, which could include students who need an environment other than a rigorously structured school day.
There is no formal alternative education program in the school division, but the system currently has six Student Advancement Coaches in place, one each in the division’s middle and high schools. The coaches work with students — and their families — who have identified as at-risk.
The coaching program, which began during the 2011-12 school year after the Academy for Life and Learning for alternative education closed, brings together students, families, administration, faculty, staff and the coaches to create a Student Success Plan. The plan identifies needs and develops strategies for improvement.
Since its implementation, the number of students participating in the program has increased and “there have been minor improvements in student attendance and discipline among caseload students and a significant increase in parent and student engagement,” wrote Dr. David Gaston, who is finishing out his last month as WJCC’s senior director for accountability, quality and innovation before beginning a new career July 1 as superintendent of Charles City County Public Schools, in an email.
During the 2013-14 school year, the coaches also worked with students who needed to complete additional course credits to be eligible for on-time graduation. The coaches monitored student participation and progress and worked with teachers to implement tutoring programs when needed.
“When students feel safe, are present in school every day and invested in the learning environment, academic improvement and increased student achievement has a better opportunity to improve over time,” Gaston wrote. “However, academic achievement data is still being analyzed and reviewed for trend. The academic achievement indicators are more difficult to track and link directly to the [coaches] …”
Despite all the work coaches have been doing, there is still a need for “direct academic intervention opportunities and experiences,” Gaston said. That is where the new RFP comes in.
The WJCC School Board made alternative education a priority in its fiscal year 2015 budget, which runs from July 1 until the end of June 2015, by allocating $300,000 toward beginning to establish a new program. The funds may be enough to begin a program during the second semester of the 2014-15 school year, Deputy Superintendent Olwen Herron said.
Students have already chosen their courses for the next school year, so the program would not be able to begin as soon as school resumes, Herron said, but that is open to change.
In roughly five pages of requirements, the division’s request asks respondents to identify curriculum that meets the state’s standards, educational goals and metrics, an assessment and remediation plan, guidance and counseling details and a plan for hiring and retaining qualified staff members.
When the responses come in, a committee will be tasked with reviewing the confidential results. Results of the process will not be made public until a recommendation is brought to the school board.