Rapid City Alternative Academy reports early gains from Discovery behavior curriculum; leaders plan additional supports

Rapid City Alternative Academy staff on Tuesday described their Discovery social‑skills curriculum and early results from the first full year of implementation, saying students who complete the nine‑week course on time generally show measurable gains and that the academy will continue to refine tiered supports for students who need additional help.

Why it matters: Discovery is the academy’s entry course for students placed at the district’s alternative academy; administrators and teachers say the curriculum focuses on transferable social and communication skills, anger management, problem solving and group‑work routines that teachers contend reduce classroom disruptions and can improve academic progress.

What staff said - Program structure: Jessica Canta, principal of Rapid City Alternative Academy (RCAA), said Discovery is a nine‑week, research‑based course that all in‑person RCAA students take as their entry class. The Discovery curriculum includes six major units (effective groups; anger management; communication modes and…