Principal: No student left behind

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff | Friday, February 16, 2007

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RAPID CITY - Alternative programs offered by the Rapid City School District have helped more than 800 students continue their pursuit of a high school diploma this year, according to Deb Steele, principal of the district academy program.

Steele, who oversees 10 alternative programs, updated the Rapid City School Board on enrollments and programs Thursday.

The programs the district offers are a "smorgasbord of opportunities" where no student is left behind, Steele said.

"I always say that if a student wants a high school diploma they need to come and talk to me," she said. "There are so many opportunities, there's no reason a student shouldn't come back to school."

School board member Eric Abrahamson reminded the board that none of the programs is mandated. Rather, the district has made a choice to invest in these programs.

At 17, Rapid City Academy at the Career Learning Center is the district's oldest program. Its current enrollment is 101. The self-paced program serves students who are in danger of not graduating. Seniors are a priority and many turn to the program this time of year to make up credits that they need to graduate. Students can enroll twice a month.

"We're getting busy this time of year," Steele said.

The Jefferson Academy was started 14 years ago and has a current enrollment of 290 students in grades 9-12. The academy operates on a trimester schedule. The academy offers a smaller environment with 75-minute classes. The school has had a waiting list since 2005.

"The demand is bigger than the supply," Steele said. "We continue to try to fit kids in."

The former Lincoln Elementary School currently houses the Ninth Grade Academy and the newly created Tenth Grade Academy.

The ninth-grade program is limited to 90 first-time ninth-graders. The academy's goal is to prepare the students to enroll in their home high school as tenth graders. Middle schools help identify most of the students who enroll.

The academy's staff works with students to help them make a plan for their futures, Steele said.

Enrollments are now being accepted for the Tenth Grade Academy for the fall of 2007. The program is designed for students who failed English, math and science as ninth-graders at either high school. Transportation is provided from the high schools to the academy for the half- and full-credit courses that are accelerated.

"A student can earn a full credit in 18 weeks," Steele said.

The Rushmore Academy is a year-round transitional program for students returning from Department of Corrections programs or drug and alcohol-treatment programs, Steele said. The academy makes it possible for students who are released mid-year to keep up with their school work until they can "drop back in their home high school," she said. The program has 25 current students and has served 67 so far this year.

Rapid City is partnering with the state to provide online courses through The Virtual Campus. The final trimester begins March 5. Courses offered through The Virtual Campus are open to high school students anywhere who have access to the Internet. During the current school year, 116 students took advantage of the on-line courses.

Steele is working with a consortium of 13 states to expand virtual education into the middle school. Middle school language arts and math will be available in time for fall enrollments.

The Oyate Classroom at National American University is open to students who are at least 16. Among the 105 students enrolled in courses this year were 51 drop-outs who returned to resume their education. Students are expected to visit the classroom at least twice a week to work on the self-paced curriculum.

Homebound is a short-term program that brings tutors to students confined at home for medical reasons. So far this year, 42 students have received services.

Steele also supervises the Suspension/Expulsion program that provides an alternative for students expelled from school.

And, Steele oversees the teachers at the Juvenile Services Center. "We try to keep the lines of communication open with the home school so that when students are released they can go back to school," she said.

For more information on the Ninth Grade and Tenth Grade academies, call the Lincoln building at 355-3087. For information on the other alternative programs, call the Jefferson Academy at 394-4048, or go to the school district's Web site at www.rcas.org.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com