A comparison study of two alternative education programs on selected school-related attitudes

This study examined two alternative education programs designed to encourage at-risk students to remain in school. The purpose was to identify the ability of each program to change the school-related attitudes and orientations that may contribute to the student\u27s dropping out of school (school and teacher bonding, academic self-concept, perception of opportunity, self-esteem); In addition to the five dependent variables measured, the number of credits earned as well as the holding power of the program, were examined and compared between the two groups as indication of educational engagement. The study was conducted as a comparison between the two programs and the effect each program would have on students, on the above mentioned variables; The first program, Horizon High School, is an alternative high school intended for those students who, because of academic and/or personal reasons, find it difficult to successfully meet the demands of the traditional high school. The second program, the Graduation Incentive Program (GIP), for grades nine through twelve, is an alternative program of study available to students only through their home school; The five dependent variables were analyzed using analysis of covariance, with the covariant being the pretest. The major findings of the study indicated Horizon High School had a statistically significant effect, at the.01 level or more, on students for three of the five dependent variables measured. The variables included school bonding, teacher bonding, and academic self-concept. The fourth dependent variable, self-esteem, also had a statistically significant effect for the Horizon High School students, but at a.05 level. The last dependent variable, perception of opportunity, showed no difference between the groups; Educational engagement, as measured by the number of credits earned, showed no significant difference between the groups. The holding power of the Horizon High School grogram seemed to be greater using the number of students who dropped out of the program. The Horizon High School group had only 7 students dropout, as compared to 29 for the GIP group