ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS General Information Updated August 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Home Education 2 Section 504 3 Alternative Schools 4 (Assignment Procedure) Department of Juvenile Justice Programs 5 Alternative Education Contacts 6
MARION COUNTY ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS 1517 SE 30 th Ave, Suite 1, Ocala, FL 34471 Phone: (352) 671-6860 Fax: (352) 671-6861 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
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 1002.01 and 1002.20. 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 1006.15. 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 671-6859 x57870 fax 671-6899 diana.henderson@marion.k12.fl.us All documents for Home School can be found at the Alternative Education Website 2
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 671-6860 x57847 brian.greene@marion.k12.fl.us All documents for a 504 conference can be found at www.marion.k12.fl.us forms search. 3
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS 9734 PACE Center for Girls (Skylark Plaza) 1601 NE 25 th Ave, #320, Ocala, FL 344770 Contact: Cathleen Blagay, Principal Phone: 369-0571 Fax: 369-0572 Target Population: 12-18 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. 9618 Silver River Mentoring & Instruction (SRMI) 2500 SE 44 th Ct, Ocala, FL 34471 Contact: Mike Nebesnyk, Director Phone: 694-0191 Fax: 694-0195 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. 9731 Kingsbury Academy 8305 SE 58 th Ave., Ocala, FL 34479 Contact: Beth Moore, Director Phone: 245-6784 Fax: 245-5172 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
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS YOUTH SERVICES 9721 (MJCF) Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility 10420 NW Gainesville Rd, Ocala, FL 34482 / PO Box 6, Lowell, FL 32663 Brian Greene, Program Specialist Records Contact: Jane Routte Phone: 840-8246 Fax: 840-8259 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 34478 Brian Greene, Program Specialist Records Contact: Teena Ducharme Phone: 732-1450 x218 Fax: 369-2497 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: 732-1450 x218 Fax: 369-2497 Target Population: Any student arrested and charged as an adult. 5
CONTACTS Regular Education Alternative Placement Dr. Lou Archibald, Supervisor 671-6860 x57865 louise.archibald@marion.k12.fl.us Judy Saunders, Bookkeeper/Expulsions 671-6842 x55765 judith.saunders@marion.k12.fl.us Mary Jean Garcia/Clerk Specialist/Alternative Placements Mary.garcia@marion.k12.fl.us Paula Lanham, ESE Resource Teacher - 671-6880 x57858 paula.lanham@marion.k12.fl.us Home Education Diana Henderson, Home School Liaison 671-6859 x57870 diana.henderson@marion.k12.fl.us Section 504 Brian Greene, Program Specialist 671-6842 x57847 brian.greene@marion.k12.fl.us Mary Jean Garcia, Clerk Specialist/IPC 671-6860 x57865 mary.garcia@marion.k12.fl.us Department of Juvenile Justice Dr. Lou Archibald, Supervisor - 671-6860 x57865 louise.archibald@marion.k12.fl.us Brian Greene, Program Specialist 671-6842 x57847 brian.greene@marion.k12.fl.us Calvis Jones, Curriculum calvis.jones@marion.k12.fl.us Carmen Pellicier, Lead Teacher MRJDC/MCSO 732-1450 x242 carmen.pellicier@marion.k12.fl.us Jane Routte, Lead Teacher, Reading Coach - MJCF 840-8246 jane.routte@marion.k12.fl.us Paul Jewell, Guidance Debra Hamed, ESE Facilitator 732-1450 x243 debra.hamed@marion.k12.fl.us Ann Busby, Transition - 840-8255 Ann.busby@marion.k12.fl.us Mary Jean Garcia, Clerk Specialist/IPC 671-6860 x57865 mary.garcia@marion.k12.fl.us 6