Table 4.5. Students served according to alternative education definitions, by level and state: 2013

 
State Elementary
school students
Middle
school
students
High
school
students
Students defined
by age rather
than grade
United States1 13 22 24 4
         
Alabama
Alaska Yes Yes
Arizona Yes Yes
Arkansas Yes Yes Yes
California
         
Colorado
Connecticut2 Yes
Delaware3 Yes Yes
District of Columbia
Florida
         
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho4 Yes Yes
Illinois5 Yes Yes Yes
Indiana Yes Yes
         
Iowa
Kansas Yes Yes
Kentucky
Louisiana Yes Yes Yes
Maine
         
Maryland
Massachusetts Yes Yes
Michigan6 Yes Yes Yes
Minnesota7 Yes Yes Yes
Mississippi8 Yes
         
Missouri Yes Yes Yes
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada Yes Yes Yes
New Hampshire Yes
         
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York Yes Yes Yes
North Carolina
North Dakota9 Yes
         
Ohio Yes Yes Yes
Oklahoma Yes Yes
Oregon Yes Yes Yes
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
         
South Carolina Yes Yes
South Dakota
Tennessee10 Yes Yes Yes
Texas11 Yes
Utah
         
Vermont Yes Yes Yes
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia Yes Yes Yes
Wisconsin Yes
Wyoming
† Not applicable.  The state definition does not specify the grade level or age of students served.
1 National total reflects the number of "Yes" responses for the column.
2 Connecticut offers alternative education during periods of expulsion for students under the age of 16, and for students ages 16–18 on their first expulsion. 
3 In Delaware, alternative education is intended primarily for students in grades 6–12.
4 Idaho offers alternative education programs to students in grades 7–12.
5 Alternative education programs in Illinois serve students in grades 4–12.
6 In Michigan, alternative education programs serve students in grades K–12.
7 Minnesota offers alternative education programs to students in grades K–12.
8 Mississippi defines students by school age; students ages 6–17 are served in alternative education programs. If a child is 5 and is enrolled in full-day kindergarten, they are also eligible for alternative education programs. 
9 Students must be between 16–21 years old and have been dropped from the regular school program to be eligible for foundation aid payments in North Dakota's alternative program. 
10 Tennessee offers alternative education programs to students in grades 1–12.
11 Students in Texas must be between the ages of 10–21 to participate in the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs; the state does not specify an age for participation in the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program. 
NOTE: Although states define alternative education in different ways, alternative education serves primarily students with behavioral problems. The most common alternative education services states offer are regular academic instruction, counseling, social skills, life skills, job readiness, and behavioral services.
SOURCE: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic, How do states define alternative education?retrieved September 15, 2014 from http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/midatlantic/pdf/REL_2014038.pdf. Data Source