The Capital School District Board of Education will be holding a special board meeting on August 8th. Among the few items for consideration is a contract with Pathways of Delaware to run an in-school alternative program in some of Capital’s schools. The program is meant to prevent expulsions where students are sent to alternative schools.
Whenever I see outside contracts like this, my very first thought concerns students who have special education. Any contractor would have to follow the student’s IEP just as any district employee would. This program is not for every student. It is for students who are simply unable to function within a school for very serious behavior issues. Alternative placement is very expensive for any district or charter school.
What are your thoughts on this proposal? In reading the proposal from Pathways of Delaware, they included endorsements from the Christina School District. Do other districts have this program?