Since 2024, Education Northwest has been working closely with eight state teams through our State Action Collaborative for High School Alternatives to support meaningful policy change. We’ve provided one-on-one coaching and technical assistance to help states plan and implement changes, while also facilitating cross-state learning and collaboration.
These state profiles were developed in close collaboration with the teams from our collaborative and are a snapshot of the current policy landscape of each participating state. They reflect a combination of publicly available information on alternative education policy from state department websites and information shared by team members directly.
Arkansas’ funding formula includes categorial funding for alternative learning environments based on student attendance the previous year.
California’s accountability system includes a status label for alternative schools on the California School Dashboard that provides alternative measures for school success.
Indiana provides additional funding for schools to offer specialized services to students in grades 6–12 who face challenges to success in traditional settings.
Kentucky’s accountability system includes indicators of postsecondary readiness and a five-year cohort graduation rate to recognize student persistence.
The Michigan Department of Education created a Flexibility Guide, providing options for personalizing how students can meet graduation requirements and tailoring education pathways to students’ strengths and needs.
Minnesota’s state approved alternative programs can generate additional funding from student participation in after-school and summer extended time programs.
Oregon recognizes that districts cannot always meet the needs of all students, so community-based organizations fill gaps in services.
Rhode Island does not currently have a formal definition of alternative education, but Alternative Learning Plans provide students who may otherwise not be successful in the traditional system with customized and flexible education.