LOUISIANA

Louisiana's alternative education is intended to meet the needs of students experiencing difficulty with learning, school achievement, progress toward graduation, or employment due to social, emotional, physical, or mental factors. Students are considered at risk when they are one or more years behind their age group in the number of credits attained or in their basic skill levels in language arts and math, as well as identified by one or more of the following: low income, retained two or more years, excessive absenteeism, adjudicated delinquency, pregnant or parenting, less than a 2.0 grade point average, have parents or siblings who have been dropouts, exhibit low self-esteem, victims of abuse or neglect, substance abuse, or homeless.

Louisiana's alternative programs must submit a narrative proposal for approval from the Department of Education covering 19 topics, including purpose, needs assessment, student eligibility, class sizes, detailed outline of curriculum, instructional methods, type and number of staff, plan for parent and community involvement, educational support services, and procedure for program evaluation.