For directions to the Alternative Education Program located at the Downingtown Educational Center, please click here .
Academics
The school's curriculum reflects Pennsylvania's academic standards, the curricula of Chester County's 12 school districts, and the individual needs of the students enrolled in the school.
The middle school curriculum offers:
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Social Studies
- Science
- Social Skills
- Life Skills
- Adventure Education/Ropes Course
- Physical Education/Health
- Technology/Creative Arts
- Pre-vocational Industrial Arts
The high school curriculum offers:
English
- English I
- English II
- Multicultural Literature
- American Literature
Social Studies
- Global History
- Civics
- US History
- Government/Economics
Science
- General Science
- Intro to Biology
- Intro to Chemistry
- Intro to Physics
Mathematics
- Mathematics in Daily Living
- Consumer Related Mathematics
- Business Mathematics
- Algebra I/Algebra II
- Geometry
Electives
- Adventure Education/Ropes Course
- Physical Education/Health
- Technology/Creative Arts
- Pre-vocational Industrial Arts
- Life Skills
- Social Skills
Students are able to earn graduation credits as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the local districts. The school's guidance department works closely with the student's sending school district to design an individual academic program that will enable the student to meet graduation requirements.
Staff
Staff are dually certified teachers in both regular and special education, or are in the process of becoming dually certified. Additional staff include behavior management specialists, behavior interventionists, counselors and school psychologists. The current student to staff ratio is 4 to 1.
Attendance
Teachers are assigned a maximum of 12 students per class. If a student is absent, the teacher calls the home every day to talk with the student or the parent. In order to keep the sending school informed of the student's attendance patterns, the attendance specialist serves as a liaison between the student's teacher and the student's sending school district. Each student's attendance record is reviewed weekly by the Alternative Education Program school principal and the supervisor of special education.
Pre-vocational Training
Students participate in career exploration programs. Students explore a variety of careers in a pre-vocational setting. This experience broadens the students' future prospects regarding employment and provides training opportunities that may serve as a motivating factor to improve performance and behavior.
Students, whose behavior allows, may apply to the Center for Arts & Technology Brandywine Campus to further their vocational training in a specific occupational field of study. If accepted, students attend the Center for Arts & Technology for a half-day and the Alternative Education Program for a half-day.
Counseling
Students receive "group counseling" once a week. During which, students discuss a wide range of topics from anger management to career goals. Individual counseling for students experiencing personal and/or emotional issues are scheduled on an as-needed basis. In addition, every student attends a private session at least four times a year to review his/her credit status and academic performance.
Students who are preparing to return to their home school are seen individually to prepare them for the transition back to a regular education setting.
Behavior Management
Students experience class sizes of a maximum of 12 students. The student to staff ratio of 4 to 1 allows for substantial behavioral support for the students. The program is structured as a comprehensive, behavior modification system that staff use to teach students to take responsibility for their actions.
Students are awarded points for appropriate behavior including the bus ride to and from school. Point totals are tallied daily and students move through a system of levels. Each level presents students with increased opportunities and responsibilities.
Level I - 20 Successful Days: Students who have attained Level I status may attend a weekly pizza party and participate in incentive trips.
Level II - 15 Successful Days: Students who have attained Level II status are eligible to apply for membership in the Cobra Leadership Club and may attend selected incentive trips.
Level III - 10 Successful Days: Students enter the Alternative Education Program at Level III. After ten successful days at the school, students may shop in the school store and sign up for academic field trips.
Level IV - 5 Days Probation: Students who have difficulty controlling their behavior or who are disruptive in class are placed at Level IV. This is a warning so that students may correct their behavior.
Level V - 10 Days Probation: Students who are not responding to the level system are placed at level V. At level V, students are given continuous feedback (every 15 minutes) regarding their behavior.
Tuition
Tuition is paid by the students' home school district.
For more information
For more information regarding the Chester County Alternative Education Program, please call (484) 237-6000.
