Psychology

Is Alternative School Assignment Followed by Improved Students Grades?

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Background: Behavioral alternative schools (BAS) serve students who are unsuccessful in traditional schools due to low academics and behavioral challenges. Objective: The current study examined the impact of attending a BAS on student grades. Methods: Study researchers used a pretest-posttest design with a random sample of 170 middle school students. ANOVA was used to test the effect of race, gender and grade level on GPA before and after BAS. Multiple linear regression was used to model the effect of age, attendance and covariates on GPA before and after BAS. Results: For boys, there was no change in GPA after attending the BAS, while girls’ GPA worsened after attending the BAS. Results also showed an effect of attendance and grade level. Although BAS have existed for over 40 years and continue to enroll large numbers of America’s students, their impact on student grades remains debatable. Conclusions: The BAS system should not imply a goal of improving students’ grades if its main existence is to correct negative behaviors. Restorative practices within the regular educational setting may produce better academic outcomes than BAS.

Publication Title

Urban Social Work

Publication Date

2022

Volume

16

Issue

1

First Page

30

Last Page

47

ISSN

2474-8684

DOI

10.1891/USW-D-20-00025

Keywords

behavioral alternative school, Black, disparities, education, school-to-prison pipeline, zero-tolerance

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