ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. General Information

Transcription

1 ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS General Information Updated August 2010

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Home Education 2 Section Alternative Schools 4 (Assignment Procedure) Department of Juvenile Justice Programs 5 Alternative Education Contacts 6

3 MARION COUNTY ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS 1517 SE 30 th Ave, Suite 1, Ocala, FL Phone: (352) Fax: (352) Dr. Lou Archibald, Supervisor Alternative Programs encompasses Dropout Prevention Services, Home Education, Department of Juvenile Justice Schools, and Section 504. The alternative program schools focus specifically on the diverse learning and behavioral needs of students who are at risk. Staff members share in the responsibility for accommodating the learning and behavioral needs of the individual to the maximum extent possible with the goal of success for all learners. The mission is to provide a continuation of educational services that empowers reassigned, expelled, and referred students by creating a culture that supports a personalized learning experience. Special programs to address the diverse learning needs of students are provided by Silver River Mentoring and Instruction (SRMI) and Kingsbury schools. SRMI s Fast Track program focuses on academically deficient 8 th grade students. Kingsbury has a special unit for regular education elementary students focused on a continuum of education services and progression back into the student s base school. All programs in the Alternative Programs department strive to provide customer friendly service with quality assurance of programming. 1

4 HOME EDUCATION Home Education Law By definition, a Florida home-education program is sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian in order to satisfy the requirements of Florida Statutes and The parent or guardian is not required to be a certified teacher, nor does the law require any other educational qualification (such as high-school or college graduate status) in order to teach your children at home. As the parent or guardian, you are your child s primary instructor and the supervisor of his or her education. Six Responsibilities of Parents are: 1. Send a notice of intent to your district school superintendent designee. 2. Maintain a portfolio of records. 3. Make your portfolio available for inspection by the superintendent upon a 15-day notice. 4. Submit an annual evaluation for each child to the superintendent designee. 5. Preserve your child s portfolio for two years. 6. Submit a letter of termination upon completion of your home-school program, upon enrollment in a public or private school, or upon moving from the county. Participation in Interscholastic Extracurricular Student Activities Home education students may participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities under Florida Statute HOME EDUCATION STUDENTS: Are eligible for Bright Futures scholarships Are not bound to specific hourly attendance Are not provided instructional materials from their base school May be dually enrolled May return to public school within compulsory attendance age In returning from home school to public school, placement is validated during the first grading period upon return May take standardized tests at their base school CONTACT: Diana Henderson x57870 fax diana.henderson@marion.k12.fl.us All documents for Home School can be found at the Alternative Education Website 2

5 SECTION 504 What is Section 504? Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a broad civil rights anti-discrimination law which protects the rights of individuals with handicaps and is applied to entities that receive federal funding. The statute grants the right to be free from discrimination to diverse array of people. Unlike IDEA, Section 504 does not provide funds, nor create a separate learning environment. It is a discrimination law, not a service law like IDEA. How does Section 504 Define Disabled? To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to: 1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities: 2) have a record of such an impairment, or 3) be regarded as having such impairment. The determination of whether a student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity must be made on an individual basis. Section 504 defines a physical or mental impairment as any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin and endocrine or any mental or psychological disorder. This list is not exhaustive. Major Life Activities Major life activities as defined in the Section 504 regulation include functions such as caring for one s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. This list is not exhaustive. Other functions can be major life activities for purposes of Section 504. Accommodations and Modifications There are innumerable accommodations and modifications that are necessary for some students on an individual basis under Section 504. Because the disabilities resulting in students being eligible are so broad, the number and types of accommodations are endless. The key is that accommodations and modifications, if necessary, are made that make it possible for these students to be successful as it relates to their disability. Most accommodations are best teaching practices. Contact: Briane Greene, Program Specialist x57847 brian.greene@marion.k12.fl.us All documents for a 504 conference can be found at forms search. 3

6 ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS 9734 PACE Center for Girls (Skylark Plaza) 1601 NE 25 th Ave, #320, Ocala, FL Contact: Cathleen Blagay, Principal Phone: Fax: Target Population: yr old girls (must be interviewed and meet criteria) who are experiencing difficulty or conflict in school and at home. PACE s purpose is to intervene and prevent high school dropouts, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, addictions, and welfare dependency. Year-round (240 days) secondary self-paced curriculum with a 1-10 student ratio Silver River Mentoring & Instruction (SRMI) 2500 SE 44 th Ct, Ocala, FL Contact: Mike Nebesnyk, Director Phone: Fax: Target Population: 6-12 Grade SRMI is an alternative school for at-risk high school students. It combines a core values management system with a reward based recognition system. Fast Track is a new academic program for unit recovery for 8 th graders. Transportation is provided for both programs Kingsbury Academy 8305 SE 58 th Ave., Ocala, FL Contact: Beth Moore, Director Phone: Fax: Kingsbury is a second chance alternative education program designed to serve K 12 ESE students who are referred by the staffing specialist for excessive behavior problems. Kingsbury also serves regular education elementary students with discipline problems. The program provides: Daily group therapy, daily activities therapy Elementary 1 5 student ratio Secondary 1 6 student ratio Individualized instruction, behavior management, and transportation provided. 4

7 DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS YOUTH SERVICES 9721 (MJCF) Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility NW Gainesville Rd, Ocala, FL / PO Box 6, Lowell, FL Brian Greene, Program Specialist Records Contact: Jane Routte Phone: Fax: Long Term: 9-12 months Population: 44 bed facility (Level 8 facility, state-wide, 240-day instructional calendar) 9722 (MRJDC) Marion Regional Juvenile Detention Center 3040 NW 10 th St, Ocala, FL Brian Greene, Program Specialist Records Contact: Teena Ducharme Phone: x218 Fax: Short Term: 3-21 days Population: 88 bed facility (5 counties, 240-day instructional calendar) 9724 (MCSO) Marion Sheriff s Office- Jail Brian Greene, Program Specialist Records Contact: Teena Ducharme Phone: x218 Fax: Target Population: Any student arrested and charged as an adult. 5

8 CONTACTS Regular Education Alternative Placement Dr. Lou Archibald, Supervisor x57865 Judy Saunders, Bookkeeper/Expulsions x55765 Mary Jean Garcia/Clerk Specialist/Alternative Placements Paula Lanham, ESE Resource Teacher x57858 paula.lanham@marion.k12.fl.us Home Education Diana Henderson, Home School Liaison x57870 diana.henderson@marion.k12.fl.us Section 504 Brian Greene, Program Specialist x57847 brian.greene@marion.k12.fl.us Mary Jean Garcia, Clerk Specialist/IPC x57865 mary.garcia@marion.k12.fl.us Department of Juvenile Justice Dr. Lou Archibald, Supervisor x57865 louise.archibald@marion.k12.fl.us Brian Greene, Program Specialist x57847 brian.greene@marion.k12.fl.us Calvis Jones, Curriculum calvis.jones@marion.k12.fl.us Carmen Pellicier, Lead Teacher MRJDC/MCSO x242 carmen.pellicier@marion.k12.fl.us Jane Routte, Lead Teacher, Reading Coach - MJCF jane.routte@marion.k12.fl.us Paul Jewell, Guidance Debra Hamed, ESE Facilitator x243 debra.hamed@marion.k12.fl.us Ann Busby, Transition Ann.busby@marion.k12.fl.us Mary Jean Garcia, Clerk Specialist/IPC x57865 mary.garcia@marion.k12.fl.us 6