Alternative Education Program

The Alternative Education program supports students who have demonstrated difficulty in maximizing their full potential in a traditional classroom setting. Students enrolled in the Alternative Education Program are taught to the same academic standards established for all students attending Westford Academy. It is a program that provides students an alternative route to academic success. Students who may benefit from the Alternative Education Program are those who have demonstrated patterned absenteeism, tardiness, and social or emotional health concerns.

Each student seeking to enroll goes through a referral process initiated by their guidance counselor, or their respective Dean. Any questions about the Alternative Education Program can be sent to Dean Robert Ware or Social Worker Tracey Murphy.

The Alternative Education Program (AEP) at Westford Academy is one for at risk students. Its primary focus is to support participating students in their effort to successfully complete the graduation requirements at WA. The program is centered on meeting each individual student's needs. To that end, every element of the program, from the proposed intake process to the tailored instruction, is geared to the individual. Given that characteristic, the program has adopted a new work-study component designed to support eligible seniors. This feature of the program is called Senior Seminar.

The Senior Seminar approach is one focused on preparing eligible students for the transition to Life After Westford Academy. Students who participate in the program will attend school on Friday only. On this particular day, participating students will be supported in successfully satisfying any remaining academic graduation requirements. This will entail classroom instruction, tutorial support, and individual work time. At the end of the day, students will be given assignments to be completed before returning the following Friday. The Life After WA piece will focus on developing a host of skills and building a knowledge base that will enable students to exercise sound judgment and become responsible, contributing members of society. Activities will be concentrated on, but not be limited to voter registration, personal finance, goal setting and achieving, problem solving, and communication.

Seminar at a Glance

Eligibility

1. Student must be a senior, participating in the Alternative Education Program, have passing score on the MCAS exam, and be credit eligible as determined by his or her guidance counselor.
2. Student must be employed and able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. Employment and hours worked will be documented.
3. An entrance meeting involving the student, AEP representatives, a school administrator, and the student's parent(s), must take place before the student engages in the program

Program Requirements

1. Student will attend a full day on Friday or the last school day of each week. Because the seminar requires only one academic intensive school day per week, students must attend. Should extenuating circumstances make attendance impossible, student must arrange to make up the full day on a day assigned by AEP staff. Excessive Seminar Day absences will result in removal from the seminar.
2. Participating students are expected to complete assignments given on the Seminar Day during Development Days.
3. At the culmination of the marking period, student must present a portfolio. The portfolio will demonstrate evidence of mastery of both the remaining graduation requirements as well as knowledge gained from the Life After piece of the seminar.