Affiliations




Watch this "Recent Announcements" area for updates from Olympia during this legislative session.....

Recent Announcements

  • Online Learning 2010-11 Annual Report This report provides comprehensive information regarding online learning in our K-12 public schools for the 2010-11 school year. It provides information regarding the multi-district online approval process ...
    Posted Mar 27, 2012 11:49 AM by Steve Davidson
  • WALA Announces 2012 Award Recipients At the annual Washington Association of Learning Alternatives conference held March 1-3, 2012, Mr. Chris Jorgensen from Lynden Academy was selected the WALA Administrator of the Year and  Mr ...
    Posted Mar 12, 2012 2:52 PM by Steve Davidson
  • Do you have a breakthrough idea or promising practice in STEM you want to put into action? Information for Grant Seekers (Alternative Learning Programs)Join us for a Webinar on March 15Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar seat now at:https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/767330414 ...
    Posted Mar 10, 2012 1:15 PM by Steve Davidson
  • River's Edge ALE HS Student goes to Washington D.C. A high school senior from Richland is preparing to represent Washington state at a national education summit in Washington DC.But the road to the nation's capital for Saveta ...
    Posted Feb 24, 2012 7:58 AM by Steve Davidson
  • WALA's 37th Annual Conference There are still openings for the spring conference in Vancouver.  The registration form can be found by following the "Upcoming Conferences" link to the left.  We have also uploaded the ...
    Posted Feb 6, 2012 9:21 AM by Steve Davidson
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"Alternative education is a perspective, not a procedure or program. It is based upon the belief that there are many ways to become educated, as well as many types of environments and structures within which this may occur. Further, it recognizes that all people can be educated and that it is in society's interest to ensure that all are educated to at least...[a] general high school... level. To accomplish this requires that we provide a variety of structures and environments such that each person can find one that is sufficiently comfortable to facilitate progress." (Morley, 1991)

What is Alternative Education?


Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different from those of mainstream or traditional education. While some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientations, others are more informal associations of teachers and students dissatisfied with some aspect of mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives, which include charter schools, alternative schools, independent schools, and home-based learning vary widely, but often emphasize the value of small class size, close relationships between students and teachers, and a sense of community.