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Aldridge hosts middle‑school alternative placement for students in lieu of expulsion; staff report early returns
Summary
A small alternative‑placement program housed at Aldridge serves students placed via administrative hearing instead of expulsion, offering SEL, core academics and reentry planning. Administration reported 38 students served over four years and described intake, daily logs and dismissal criteria.
The board heard an update on the district’s middle‑school alternative placement program, currently housed at Aldridge Middle School.
Administration clarified the program serves middle‑school students placed there following an administrative hearing — it is not an elective or general alternative offered to all students. The intent is to provide supports to help students address behavior, social‑emotional and academic needs so they can successfully return to their home schools. Staff described intake procedures, daily logs for parent communication and a process that permits early return to the home school when students show progress.
Program staff said 38 students have been placed in the middle‑school alternative over four years; three placements carried over between years. They reported that eight students have participated in regular classes while in the program and five returned to their home school before completing the originally recommended term. Teachers provide daily engagement logs to parents and staff maintain close communication.
Board members asked whether the program’s labeling and placement process risked stigmatizing students. Administrators said the program is intended to be supportive, not punitive, and noted that locating the capacity at a middle‑school site improves access to age‑appropriate peers and exploratory classes compared with prior locations. The board asked administration to continue monitoring data and to consider broader middle‑school alternatives if demand or needs differ across buildings.
