Update on Plan to Implement Ombudsman Educational Services Program

1
Update on Plan to Implement Ombudsman Educational
Services Program

• School Board Committee Meeting Presentation
• March 12, 2009

2
Background of Alternative School Neel Academy

• All students can learn if provided with the right
  educational environment
• Neel Data
• 34 of eligible seniors attending Neel Academy
  have graduated
• 71.56 three year average daily attendance rate
• 13.82 of the students attending Neel Academy are
  recorded as dropping out
• 19.8 of the students enrolled in Neel Academy
  in 2007-08 were taken to evidentiary hearings for
  expulsion.

3
Research Surrounding Successful Alternative
Schools

• All students can learn if provided with the right
  educational environment to meet students needs
• Need a multi-tiered alternative school program
  approach that included a non-traditional delivery
  model

4
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Two Major Objectives of Improving Discipline
  Board Goal
• Objective 3 Restructuring the current
  disciplinary alternative school program
• Objective 4 Providing instructional support
  for students who have been suspended or expelled
  from school.

5
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Numerous visits to different school system
  alterative, non-traditional and open-campus
  schools
• Review and study various instructional delivery
  models including online learning models to meet
  the needs of suspended and expelled students

6
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Ombudsman serves over 100 school districts in 16
  states throughout the country.
• Programs overall success rate of 85 of students
  over last 31 years
• successfully returning to their home school
  districts
• remaining in the program to earn credit or
• graduating with a district or Ombudsman diploma

7
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Data From Georgia Districts with Ombudsman
  Program
• graduated 67 of eligible seniors attending the
  program
• experienced a three year average attendance rate
  of 84
• earned 82.2 of academic credits attempted
• over 83 of the students enrolled have remained
  in school

8
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Ombudsman provides an alternative education
  program in an office campus business like setting
  for students who
• Have behavioral problems that have led to
  suspension or expulsion
• Have experiences of academic failure in core
  subjects
• Need to recoup credits due to truancy and non
  attendance problems
• Are unmotivated and socially disengaged

9
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Ombudsman provides
• Students with a low student-teacher ratio of 10
  to 1
• A cadre of dedicated professionally qualified
  teachers and assistants in a technology enhanced
  learning environment
• State-of-the art computers and individualized
  work stations
• Cost effective, turn-key alternative learning
  solution

10
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Ombudsman Program
• Supported through the Southern Association of
  Colleges and Schools
• Curriculum is aligned with the Georgia
  Performance Standards

11
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Examples of students who could be served through
  Ombudsman Program
• Selected Neel Academy students who have been
  suspended or expelled from school
• Selected overage secondary students
• Students who are at-risk of not graduating due to
  family issues, economic need, and child care
  needs
• Students who are at-risk of not graduating due to
  entering high school after being retained
  multiple times in either elementary or middle
  schools
• Students returning to secondary education after
  having dropped out
• Students who are struggling in the traditional
  high school setting due to various factors

12
Rationale for Plan to Implement Ombudsman
Educational Services Program

• Team envisions
• Both day and evening classes
• Opportunities for flexible scheduling
• Opportunities for acceleration and working toward
  a high school diploma from home or at the
  non-traditional school
• Accessibility to public transportation bus routes
  and elimination of transportation cost for
  students assigned to attend this program