An assessment of an alternative education program for at-risk delinquent youth

Evaluations of alternative schools have generally found that these programs have failed to produce positive evidence of effectiveness in reducing delinquent behaviors. Using an experimental design with a one-year follow-up, the present study assessed the effectiveness of one alternative education program in changing students' school related attitudes, academic performance, and self-reported delinquency. The study found that the program was able to produce short-term effects on grade point average, school attendance, and self-esteem. These effects were not observed at the one-year follow-up. The conclusions focus on the need for more rigorous research that focuses on program implementation issues.