Manhattan High to pilot alternative learning environment to boost graduation efforts

Manhattan High School staff told the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education they will pilot an Alternative Learning Environment, or ALE, in 2025–26 aimed at students at risk of dropping out and those who benefit from smaller, more personalized instruction.

The program will be cost neutral to the district, officials said, funded by at-risk dollars already allocated to Manhattan High and intended to supplant the district's existing night school program. Nicole Jones, the high school's MTSS coordinator, told the board the ALE will focus on “smaller class sizes, smaller student population, and a more personalized learning environment,” and that it will combine online and in-person instruction so students can pursue credit acquisition and credit recovery while accessing career pathways and support services.

The ALE pilot will use the high school bell and weekly schedule so students have access to district transportation, child nutrition services and counseling. Jones said staffing will include a certified “ALE specialist” to oversee operations and coordinate with grade-level teams, a student support monitor drawn from the district's student support monitor pool, and instructional staff who may teach overloads or otherwise be assigned to ALE sections.

Principal Michael Dorris said the program is intended to be flexible: placements can be temporary or longer-term depending on student needs. He described a multi-step referral and placement process that will involve the student and parent, MTSS staff, grade-level counselors and principals, the special education team when applicable, and district-level directors. Dorris and Jones said the placement team that will make final placement decisions will be co-chaired by the high school co-chair and the director of secondary education and will include the director of student services and the director of special education.

“This is not a placeholder. It's not a last resort. It's a supportive program for those who need and want a different space to learn and succeed within Manhattan High,” Jones said.

Board members pressed staff on capacity and entry criteria. Board member Carla asked how the district will prioritize applications if demand exceeds space; Jones said the referral and placement process is designed to review individual student needs and that the pilot year will start from zero enrollment so staff can build procedures and capacity in a controlled way. Board member Greg said the district can draw on other area programs' experience but must adapt the model to local students. Several board members noted the program's intent to teach coping skills and support reintegration to the main campus when appropriate.

Jones and Dorris said the district may later pursue an alternative-school license from the Kansas State Department of Education to gain additional flexibility on attendance counting and enrollment if the model proves effective. The board did not take a formal vote on ALE at the meeting; staff called 2025–26 the pilot year and said they will return with data and program adjustments after implementation.

Clarifying details noted in the presentation include that ALE will be funded with existing at-risk funds (staff characterized the program as "cost neutral" to the district), will replace the separate night school program, and will begin as a pilot in the 2025–26 school year. The district did not state a fixed enrollment cap or maximum number of students for the pilot; capacity will depend on space and staffing decisions to be made before placement begins.

The board asked that district staff communicate transition plans for current night-school students and that administrators continue to report back to the board as the pilot develops.