ABOUT US
I.
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1990, the Student Alternatives
Program, Inc. (SAPI) is a non-profit organization that plans, develops and
implements dropout recovery programs that provide accelerated and compensatory
instructional services for youth 14-21 years old in the state of Texas.
As authorized under the provisions of the Texas
Education Code, services are currently provided through:
- Performance-based contracts with school
districts to operate a community- based drop recovery program that also
provides services to students at-risk of dropping out of school, as defined
under Chapter 29, TEC;
- Contracts with counties and school districts
to provided services to youth under the provisions of Chapter 37, TEC,
Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP); and
- Four open-enrollment charter schools awarded
by the Texas State Board of Education under Chapter 12, TEC.
II. ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSE OF SAPI
Pursuant to the provisions of the Texas
Non-Profit Corporation Act, the Student Alternatives Program Inc. was
incorporated on December 21,1990 for the following purposes:
- To operate and maintain, without profit,
facilities and centers to assist young persons, who are considered to be “at
risk” and/or have “dropped-out” of public educational institutions, in
providing them with educational alternatives which will enhance their ability
to achieve higher levels of educational or vocational attainment through
remediation and competency based curriculums and programs which will
ultimately prepare them in living successfully in their community;
- To provide adequate supportive services to
such young people in a manner which will effectively enhance their educational
and vocational goals;
- To work in cooperation with public, private
and governmental agencies concerned with the educational and vocational
problems of such young people; and
- To contract with such entities in
furtherance of the above described purposes.
III. TARGET POPULATION OF ALTERNATIVE
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
A. Characteristics of Target
Population
In general, 50% to over 75% of the students
enrolled in educational programs administered by SAPI are defined as at-risk of
dropping out of school as defined in TEC Section 29.081(d) (1).
These students include, but may not be limited
to, students with poor self-concept, familial difficulties, social misconduct,
poor decision-making, below grade level reading and verbal skills, inability to
adjust to the traditional method of classroom instruction at the middle and high
school levels, etc.
Poor academic achievement can produce a
rippling effect in other school-related areas, such as a detachment from
extracurricular activities; tardiness and truancy; inappropriate school behavior
resulting in frequent absences via suspension with consequent loss of academic
credit; apathy; and poor peer/adult relationships.
IV. OPEN ENROLLMENT CHARTER SCHOOLS
In the spirit of decentralization and providing
avenues for local school restructuring, the 74th Texas Legislature enacted
Senate Bill 1 on May 30, 1995. The Texas Education Code (TEC), Sections
12.101-12.118 authorized the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish open
enrollment charter schools.
Purpose of Charter Schools
The legislative intent of the new law was based
on the belief that open-enrollment charter schools could provide:
- New avenues for decentralization,
- New avenues for local restructuring
- Choice options for parents and students
within the public education system.
- However, a more important purpose is to
encourage flexibility and innovation in teaching and learning practices in
order to improve student performance.
Charter schools receive state funding but are
not bound by the same regulations that apply to other schools. However, on the
downside, they cannot collect property taxes, thereby restricting their funding.
V. CURRENT VISION AND TEACHING
PHILOSOPHY OF
CHARTER SAPI CHARTER SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Vision
The vision of the charter district is to offer
educational programs in a community-based, non-traditional setting in which
teachers are free to be creative and innovative and students are free to explore
their full potential. The district also envisions a school in which staff,
students, parents, and the local community have a deep sense of ownership
through the knowledge that they will have the ability to truly be a part of the
educational community.
Teaching Philosophy
The teaching philosophy charter district is
that all students have the desire and ability to achieve their full potential as
successful, productive and caring members of the local and global community.
Both students and teachers must realize that obstacles are not excuses. The
student must acquire skills to be able to cope with difficulties in an
appropriate manner. He/she must learn to be self-disciplined, considerate to
others, and be self-motivated. Teachers must find a balance between being strict
when enforcing rules, yet understanding enough to make appropriate allowances
for each student’s unique situation.
