Q. What is KISD’s definition of alternative education classes?
A. Alternative education classes are those to which students are assigned who have committed serious infractions of the student disciplinary code of conduct as noted in student handbooks. These classes are highly structured and permit the student a minimum amount of movement on campus. Students who commit less serious offenses are assigned to an on-campus alternative education program known as in-school suspension. More serious offenders are assigned to the Alternative Classes housed at the Klein ISD Annex.

Q. What is the difference between alternative education classes and an adaptive behavior program in the special education department?
A. These are completely different programs. Adaptive behavior students are identified through the special education department as having specific learning/emotional disabilities. An individual education plan (I.E.P.) is developed for each of these students. As stated above, an alternative education program is one to which students are assigned who have committed serious offenses. They are generally regular education students, although a special education student may be assigned to the program if an ARD committee finds there is no relationship between the student’s handicap and behavior in a particular incident. In addition, the special education student’s I.E.P. must call for the use of regular disciplinary measures.

Q. Why are alternative classes needed?
A. Alternative classes are needed when a student commits an offense as noted in Sec. 37.006 of the Texas Education Code, or when all other discipline interventions to help the student be productive in the regular school setting have failed, yet it is important that the student has an effective and well-planned instructional program. The alternative education plan provides a substitute in-school suspension when discipline measures are necessary. Alternative education classes give the district and the students with discipline problems a wider range of choices for appropriate discipline techniques.

Q. Who decides on the placement of students in KISD Alternative Classes?
A. Placement of student in KISD Alternative Classes housed at the Klein ISD Annex is decided by the campus principal in accordance with the provisions in Senate Bill 1, Section 37.006. Students who commit the following offenses would be considered for assignment to these classes:
• violation of the district’s drug policy
• assault of student(s)
• assault of educational personnel
• incorrigible conduct
• terrorist threat
• charged with an off-campus felony
• other serious offenses

Q. Why does the district try to serve as many students on their home campus as possible?
A. Many curricular and extracurricular opportunities exist on the home campus that cannot be offered in an alternative education program. Because students who are at risk need the positive role models and the activities provided by those programs, it is helpful to keep them within the regular system on the home campus as long as possible. In addition, state and federal guidelines regarding inclusion of students call for them to be placed in the least restrictive environment.

Q. Is the array of courses that students need offered?
A. KISD provides the basic subject areas as delineated on TAKS. Having a math, science, social studies, and English Language Arts teacher to teach essential elements is of vital importance. Some computer technology courses, secondary speech and theatre arts electives, Spanish foreign language courses and some art courses are offered. Arrangements are made to continue instruction at the appropriate level. However, no advanced placement, gifted/talented, or accelerated classes will be offered.

Q. What grade levels are included in Klein ISD Alternative Classes?
A. Grades K-12 are included in Alternative Classes.

Q. Are students in Klein ISD Alternative Classes expected to abide by the guidelines established in the Student Handbook?
A. Yes, all students in KISD must abide by guidelines established in the Student Handbook for their campus (elementary, intermediate, high school) level.

Q. Do students come from all across KISD?
A. Yes.

Q. What is the shortest assignment to Alternative Classes?
A. Thirty (30) days, with some exceptions for elementary students.

Q. Are the students separated by grade level?
A. Students are grouped for instruction due to varying academic and grade placements. However, essentially all students in a given grade and/or subject area may be placed in the same classroom either regularly or periodically.

Q. Do students take physical education?
A. Yes. The exception is a high school senior who cannot meet graduation requirements.

Q. Do the sending school’s teachers have any responsibility for lesson plans, etc.?
A. Generally no, except in the case of elementary student assignment. Sending school’s teachers for an elementary student may be asked to provide assignments and the scope and sequence for each course.

Q. Are there any courses for which a student could lose credit due to placement in Alternative Classes?
A. Yes. Depending on the date of assignment to Alternative Classes, it may not be possible to continue instruction in some courses.

Q. How would one best describe the students who are assigned to Alternative Classes?
A. Only students who commit serious infractions are assigned to Alternative Classes.

Q. Why does the district want to have these classes?
A. We want to help every child achieve his/her potential. In addition, we will not permit serious or persistent misbehaving students to disrupt classrooms for other students who want to learn and know how to behave.

Q. Do students assigned to Alternative Classes have the same food options in the cafeteria as other students at their grade levels?
A. The cafeteria serves breakfast foods before 1st period ($1.00, elementary; $1.10 intermediate and high school), and a plate lunch ($1.75, elementary; $2.00, intermediate; $2.15, high school) and a la carte items for lunch. Parents can provide cash or check (to Klein ISD Food Service) in order to set up an account. Food service accounts set up at home campuses will transfer to Alternative Classes. Students are given a new Food Service account pin number while attending Alternative Classes.

Q. Does each teacher have a planning (conference) period per day?
A. Yes

Q. What is the longest assignment to Alternative Classes?
A. Forty-five (45) days. *The exception is a student who is sent to Alternative Classes for a second time in a school year. In this case, the student will be assigned to Alternative Classes for the remainder of the school year. If the second offense occurs in the final six weeks of the school year, the Alternative Classes assignment will include the following fall semester.

Q. Will students still be expelled from KISD?
A. Yes. Each student is considered on a case-by-case basis from among those involved in serious drug offenses, the assault of staff members or other students, continued incorrigible behavior, and the possession of weapons.

Q. Is transportation provided for students assigned to Alternative Classes?
A. Yes. Students are picked up and returned to their individual residence in the district by a KISD school bus. Violation of any bus transportation procedures will result in school discipline that can include: isolated instruction, out of school suspension, removal from bus, citation from KISD Police Department, and even expulsion from KISD.

Q. Are students assigned to Alternative Classes permitted to drive vehicles to school?
A. No. Students are expected to ride the KISD school bus or be transported and accompanied into the main office and signed in by a parent or guardian.

Q. Do all students assigned to Alternative Classes follow the same school hours?
A. Yes. Alternative Classes follow the high school schedule, which is from 7:22 a.m. to release of buses (2:15 p.m. for Alternative Classes.)

Q. What disciplinary alternatives are available for a student who causes serious infractions of the student disciplinary code of conduct while assigned to Alternative Classes?
A. On a case-by-case basis, a hearing will be scheduled to determine if the student will be returned to Alternative Classes for an additional period of time or expelled from the district.

Q. Who will be involved in these hearings?
A. The appropriate staff members assigned to Alternative Classes and the associate superintendent for school administration.

Q. How many teachers does Alternative Classes have?
A. Alternative Classes presently has 21 teachers; more teachers are retained as student enrollment increases.

Q. What other staff are assigned to Alternative Classes?
A. Two full-time counselors, nurse, part-time community youth services counselor, special education services support staff, psychologist as requested, educational/clerical assistants and secretaries.

Q. Is a principal or other administrator in charge?
A. Yes. K. E. Kaufman is the Director of Alternative Programs and Kevin Wood is the Associate Principal.

Q. Do students in these classes get a full school day?
A. Yes. Students follow a seven period schedule within the high school bell schedule (7:22 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.); class periods are approximately 48 minutes.

Q. Are Alternative Classes included in the drug and alcohol detection searches by the human/canine teams that occur on all of the district’s secondary campuses?
A. Yes, Alternative Classes are included in unannounced, random searches by human/canine teams, random use of metal detector wands, and daily use of walk thru metal detectors.