Alternative Education Programs and Schools

Alternative Education is an initiative within a public school district, charter school, or educational collaborative established to serve at-risk students whose needs are not being met in the traditional school setting.

Alternative Education may operate as a program or as a separate self-contained school:

• Alternative Education programs may function within a single school or be a program affiliated with one or more schools or school districts. Alternative Education programs must be affiliated with at least one school that has a school code assigned by the Department.
• Alternative Education schools that operate as self-contained public schools must comply with Massachusetts laws and regulations that guide the operation of schools in the Commonwealth and must be assigned a school code by the Department.

Alternative Education programs/schools do not include private schools, home schooling, General Educational Development (GED) services, or gifted and talented programs. Alternative Education programs/schools may serve some students with disabilities but are not designed exclusively for students with disabilities.