| What is Excel Alternative Schools? |
Excel is a corporate entity within the ResCare, Inc. family of companies specializing in alternative education to expelled, disruptive and academically disadvantaged youth. The organization uses a business simulation model to create a quality alternative school.
|
| Describe the Excel Alternative School Management approach? |
Imagine an alternative school where Associates and Staff are professionally dressed, each morning all Associates are met with a handshake and the environment looks more like a place of work than a school. Following Effective School research, Excel has developed an educational model suited for the most "at-risk" youth to feel valued and engaged. It is our goal to create an ACADEMY-TYPE SCHOOL experience for "at-risk" students focused on academic readiness and personal/self improvement.
|
| Who funds the Excel Alternative Schools? |
Excel contracts with local school boards to provide service to public school students referred by the board for service. Excel acts as a contracted agent of the school board.
|
| Are the Excel Alternative Schools effective? |
Excel is a data-driven organization that completes program specific and longitudinal impact studies on both alternative school and WIA program effectiveness. Excel programs are not good ideas but rather well defined strategic models of "at-risk" student support that have proven to be effective for the majority of youth served.
|
| How does the Excel program compare to other schools or programs in the nation? |
It is Excel’s goal to be the best program available. Through commitment to a continuous improvement process, Excel has developed program models that we feel are comparable to any alternative school program in the nation.
|
| How do youth get involved? |
Youth are referred by the local school board as a result of expulsion, assignment for school misconduct, or academic delay.
|
| How does Excel ensure that a quality staff is serving the youth? |
Our first priority is to ensure that only staff who want to work with disadvantaged students are employed. The quality of the Excel program is directly related to the quality of its staff. Excel measures success in terms of student achievement and staff job satisfaction. If either of these two (2) factors are missing, Excel will initiate change. Excel staff are competent professionals holding teaching certification professional degrees appropriate for their respective positions. Disadvantaged youth deserve this commitment.
|
| What is the MENTORING CONCEPT that is apparent in the alternative school model? |
A key variable in the Excel model is the concept of advocacy. Each student served in the program is assigned a paid staff person who tracks progress, challenges and needs. The person is responsible for developing a close relationship with parents to communicate both successes and challenges (BI-WEEKLY CONTACT REQUIRED). The system allows for individual student progress accountability. The Excel model impacts the lives of youth one individual at a time.
|
| With so many schools and program, how does the Excel ensure quality? |
Excel has developed a Quality Assurance System (QAS) designed to support program managers and staff in providing services that are consistent with the model. In the case of a problem, QAS should detect the program early and isolate resources on supporting the site to improve performance/compliance in that strategic area.
|
| Do parents receive alternative school orientation? |
At the heart, Excel effectiveness lies parent involvement. Parents are viewed as customers and their involvement in their child’s progress through the WIA program or alternative school experience is defined as critical. The relationship with parents begins with a professional orientation. Our goal is to have minimal surprises and to cultivate a sense of parent involvement.
|
| Is the Excel program:
-just that good? -just that unique? |
Excel has never lost a contract and receives near perfect scores on independent surveys from customers contracting with the program. OUR PROMISE: You have never seen an alternative school that is managed or operates on a daily basis like Excel. The programs/ schools are focused on youth!
|
| Do communities support the Excel program? |
The Excel business model for school operation is well received. The programs are needed within most communities and Excel is genuine in its support of youth academic and personal growth development.
|
| How do I get Excel to my school district or community? |
The Excel model is predicated on partnership. The school district must recognize need. The program must be viewed as THE VIABLE OPTION for serving disadvantaged youth; the partnership must make sense. Potential partnership begins with a call or an
e-mail.
|
