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.