Alternative School Instructional Program

Sharp Learning Center serves as the home to Newton County’s Alternative School Program. The center serves students in grades six through twelve who have been placed in the program for behavioral, academic, parenting and self-referral reasons.

Referrals to the program can be made by the home school, social worker, service agencies (such as Juvenile Court, Mental Health, Department of Family and Children Services), the Disciplinary Hearing Tribunal, Rainbow Lake School, or a parent and student. A placement committee comprised of representatives of the home school, agency group, and the Sharp Learning Center reviews each case and recommends placement in the program. The student and parent/guardian must sign a contract for placement at Sharp. An interim placement may be made in a crisis situation; a placement committee reviews the status of any interim placement.

The curriculum is composed of the essential state required courses of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. These courses include hands-on activities, real life application skills, and computer/laser disc instruction. The interdisciplinary units that have been developed for middle grades instruction and high school courses include “world of work” experiences. Computer instruction available includes programs in the areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Computer software for guidance and counseling services include career and real life applications, and aptitude and interest surveys.