Academic Remediation–Focused Alternative Schools: Impact on Student Outcomes

• In Event: 16.054 - Individualized Education Programs and Accommodations for Individuals With Disabilities

Abstract

In this quasi-experimental study, we examined the effectiveness of academic remediation-focused alternative schools on four different student outcome variables: a) school attendance, b) office referrals, c) suspensions, and d) credits earned. We used propensity score matching and longitudinal data from a large urban school district to examine the extent to which outcomes of students attending academic remediation-focused alternative schools differed from a matched sample of students attending traditional schools. Findings show that students attending academic remediation-focused alternative schools have significantly less office referrals and earn more credits than students in the matched sample. However, students attending academic remediation-focused alternative schools have lower attendance compared to students in the matched sample. Implications for practice, policies, and further research are described.

Authors

• Kimber L. Wilkerson, University of Wisconsin

• Sujata Dattatraya Datar, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Min-Chi Yan, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Kemal Afacan, Artvin Coruh University