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District staff report 'very, very positive' feedback on Alternative Learning Program application
Summary
District staff told the school board that the Annandale Public School District has submitted an Alternative Learning Program application to the state, received positive preliminary feedback, plans to resubmit within days and will pilot limited online options and local credit‑recovery supports if approved.
Annandale Public School District staff told the school board that the district's application to create an Alternative Learning Program (ALP) for high‑school students has received “very, very positive feedback” from the state and could be resubmitted within days.
Shirley, a high‑school staff member leading the ALP work, said the district has discussed several technical points with the state review team, clarified the district's use of licensed staff as teachers of record, and is refining language before resubmission. “We have an ALP application with the state in. ... Positive, very positive feedback that we received on it,” Shirley said.
The ALP would provide local credit‑recovery and flexible programming for students who struggle in full‑time, in‑person courses. Shirley said the district is weighing transportation options, noting most extended‑day ALP programs do not provide district transportation and that transportation may remain a barrier even with a nearby site. The district is also considering two ALP models the state described — one that functions more like an Alternative Learning Center (ALC) and another that prioritizes resident students — and said staff will seek clarification from other districts and the state before finalizing the model.
District finance staff reworked portions of the budget language to reflect instructional staffing clarifications. Shirley said the district hopes to resubmit the application “by, like, Wednesday” or Thursday and that state guidelines typically take “two to three weeks” for a final determination, though she cautioned the timeline is not exact.
Shirley described plans to pilot blended delivery and online coursework through a vendor (Edmentum) for students who need schedule flexibility. Under the model staff described, students could start primarily in person and take one online course; students maintaining at least 70 percent in online work could continue from home, while those who fall below that threshold would be pulled back into in‑person support.
The board discussed community interest and recent outreach: Shirley reported the district surveyed 64 families about returning if comparable programming were offered and received roughly two dozen responses (about 24), with seven families saying they would return, seven requesting more information, and seven saying no. Shirley also said six students in a work‑experience program had opted into online courses; four of those students had earlier planned to leave the district but decided to stay.
Next steps include clarifying the ALP model with the state and peer districts, completing site visits, finalizing budget language, and resubmitting the application. Shirley said staff would provide progress updates at subsequent meetings.
Ending: The district will continue planning site visits and program details while awaiting the state's formal response to the submitted ALP application.
