To get into a disciplinary alternative school, your child has to get suspended or expelled from his home campus. If this has happened, your child's principal will send him to an alternative school for a specified number of days. These alternative schools range from small supportive environments to large facilities that follow a boot camp model. Many children who are placed in these facilities are also placed on juvenile probation at the same time.
Charter schools are individual schools that are still part of the public school system. They must meet many of the same criteria as do public schools and are funded by the same source. Although on the surface they appear to be private schools, in actuality, they are public and therefore free of charge.
Charter schools can be good placements for troubled students, depending on the school goal and target population. Some charter schools allow for an individualized work pace, which can benefit some individuals. Others focus on small class sizes or specialized areas of focus.
A school of choice, although connected to a public school district, has different guidelines than public schools. For example, both students and staff must make the choice to be there. This fosters an entirely different atmosphere than is commonly found at most public schools, where many students complain about mandatory attendance at a school that they are not personally invested in.
Getting into a school of choice is not difficult. Schools of choice may not use prior academic performance as a limiting factor in enrollment. This offers troubled students the opportunity to get a fresh start with their education.
You may find a private school that you think would provide a good alternative education for your child, but the cost may be prohibitive. In this case, ask if scholarships are available. Almost all private schools, both alternative and traditional, have a certain number of full and partial scholarships set aside each year. Scholarships may be based on academic achievement, financial need, minority status or other criteria that the school designates.
Homeschooling is an option that you may want to consider for your troubled child. If one parent is able to stay at home full-time with the child, there are a variety of ways to homeschool that can engage your child. Essentially, a homeschool is like your own private school, and in many states, is viewed in exactly this manner. Since you are not required to purchase a set curriculum in many states, this option is often free.
Some states offer online courses that homeschoolers can use at no charge. An example of this is the IQ Academy (see Resources).