A NATIONAL SURVEY OF STATE INITIATIVES ON ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

Concerns over violence, vandalism, disruption, substance abuse, school failure, and dropout rates in the schools have resulted in an increas ed emphasis on alternative education. The purpose of this study was to examine the availability and nature of state legislative and policy m andates regarding alternative education. Among respondents, there was variability in state policy/legislative mandates and funding mechanism s, acceleration in alternative education activity, a commitment to pro viding technical assistance, limited state compliance-monitoring and p rogram evaluation, and an emphasis on interagency collaboration and pa rtnerships with the private sector. Implications for practice and furt her research are provided.