Crittenden Prep Academy
Placement Process
Students who may benefit from the services provided at Crittenden Prep Academy are those who have not been successful in the traditional school. These students may be underachievers who are not making acceptable grades in their classes. They may have short-term or long-term emotional/mental problems. They may be truant and therefore are not attending school often enough to be successful. They may have chronic discipline problems.
The placement process is most often initiated by an administrator of the student's home school, but it can be started by a parent, the student, a counselor, or a classroom teacher. Once the administrator of the home school has determined a need for placement, he/she will contact the principal of the alternative learning environment to begin the process given below.
The student is identified as in need of an alternative learning environment at their home school and recommended to Crittenden Prep Academy by the school’s administration.
The student’s home school will contact the principal of Crittenden Prep Academy and schedule a conference involving those on the Placement Team. The State Board of Education Guidelines for Alternative Learning Environments, revised June 11, 2004, requires that an Alternative Education Placement Team determine student placement into the alternative learning environment. The placement team should include the following:
- The principal of Crittenden Prep Academy or ALE coordinator
- The principal of the home school
- A parent/legal guardian/custodian of the student
- A counseling representative
- A regular classroom teacher or the special education teacher
- The student
The Placement Team will conference and determine if the student meets the qualifying characteristics. Students cannot be assigned to an alternative learning environment for behavior problems only. State guidelines require that at least two qualifying characteristics be present and be indicated on the Student Referral Form. Crittenden Prep Academy is required to maintain a file on the qualifying characteristics of each of its students.
Students placed at risk, though intelligent and capable, typically manifest one or more of the following characteristics:
- Disruptive behavior
- Drop out from school
- Personal or family problems or situations
- Recurring absenteeism
- Transition to or from residential programs
- Situations that negatively affect the student’s academic and social progress may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Ongoing, persistent lack of attaining proficiency levels in literacy and mathematics
- Abuse: physical, mental, or sexual
- Frequent relocation of residency
- Homelessness
- Inadequate emotional support
- Mental/physical health problems
- Pregnancy
- Single parenting
An action is taken by the placement team and is recorded on the Student Referral Form.
Necessary information is provided as follows:
- A Student Information Form is provided to Crittenden Prep Academy.
- The student’s current class schedule, permanent record/transcript, and discipline records are provided to Crittenden Prep Academy.
- If the student is to receive special education services at Crittenden Prep Academy, copies of the revised placement, the revised IEP, the manifest determination, behavior assessment, a behavioral plan, and a form indicating the number of days suspended during the current year are required at the alternative school prior to acceptance.
- If the student has a 504 accommodation plan in force, it is required at the alternative school prior to acceptance.
Once the alternative school is in receipt of all the above mentioned materials, a Notice of Acceptance will be given to the home school to expedite admission. (Principals of the home schools are required to notify attendance personnel of the student’s admission.
Length of placement: Students enrolled in regular classes will be placed for a minimum of 20 days and a maximum of the remainder of the school year. Length of placement for students enrolled in special education classes will be determined by the IEP committee. The length of placement of students in the custody of East Arkansas Youth Services will be determined by progress made or by a directive of EAYS.
Testing: Crittenden Prep Academy will be notified by the home school when standardized testing takes place. Students will be tested in their home district on days when benchmark, standardized achievement, and end-of-course tests are given. If the home school chooses to send certified personnel to test students at CPA, they will notify the school in advance and arrangements will be made to accommodate the testing.
Exiting the Program: Each student’s academic and behavioral progress will be evaluated at the end of his/her minimum stay and/or at end of each grading period at Crittenden Prep Academy. This progress will be reported to the administration of the home school. At this time, if significant positive progress has been noted, the placement team will meet to determine future placement of the student.
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