Citation/Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct an evaluation of an alternative program in secondary special education. A variety of procedures, methods, and examples of effective alternative school programs are prevalent in the literature. However, there is a paucity of information related to the evaluation of alternative schools and programs in alternative secondary special education in the literature. It appears that evaluations of alternative secondary special education programs are not widely conducted. This evaluation study focused on evaluations of regular alternative education programs and synthesized their criteria for use in evaluating an alternative program in secondary special education. Criteria developed from four different models were used to evaluate an alternative program in secondary special education in a medium-size mid-western city. The evaluation revealed that the needs of the students seemed to be served as determined by the program's adequacy, quality, and effectiveness. Program strengths and weaknesses were identified and recommendations for improvement were made. This study will contribute to the body of knowledge related to the evaluation and improvement of alternative programs in secondary special education by developing and conducting an evaluation of an alternative program in secondary special education.