Welcome to MAEO !!!

The purpose of the Michigan Alternative Education Organization is to advocate quality alternative education for Michigan's youth, to provide a network of support for alternative educators and students, and to promote awareness of alternative education at local, state, and national levels.

 

** Is your alternative education program surviving this year's budget cuts or is it on the chopping block as many other programs are around the state? Please visit MAEO's Discussion Forum to share your story and to see how your fellow alternators are doing this year!

 

Alternative Education at the National and State Levels

All students have aspirations and all deserve the chance to choose an educational setting consistent with their learning styles. Beginning in the 1960's, America's alternative schools began exploring innovative techniques in order to provide appropriate instructional settings for students in need of additional educational opportunities. At present the alternative education effort in the United States serves an estimated four million students, or approximately 7% of the total public school population.

Michigan has been in the forefront of the alternative education movement since the beginning. Across the state, the concept of providing an intimate educational setting responsive to student and community needs has flourished. There are now more than 369 alternative education programs, in 270 school districts throughout Michigan. These programs collectively serve nearly 25,000 students, or about 5% of the total secondary school population in the state. While all programs work to help at-risk students complete their secondary education, they exhibit incredible variety and diversity in terms of size, focus, philosophy and structure.