Table of Contents

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 Can Alternative Programs Help At-Risk and Special-Needs Students?

Chapter Preface 19

1 Alternative High School Programs Can Help Address Dropout Rates John H. Tyler Magnus Lofstrom 21

2 Schools Lower Dropout Rates by Forcing Students to Go to Alternative Schools Heather Vogell 32

3 At-Risk Students Are Forced into Alternative Schools Scott Travis Megan O'Matz 40

4 Specialized Schools Are Vital for Hearing-Impaired Students: National Association of the Deaf 45

5 Hearing-Impaired Students Do Well Socially in Mainstream Classrooms Shirin D. Antia Patricia Jones John Luckner Kathryn H. Kreimeyer Susanne Reed 51

6 Children with Mental Disabilities Should Be Included in Mainstream Classrooms Nirvi Shah 63

7 Inclusion Does Not Benefit Disabled Students Barbara Jones 72

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 76

Chapter 2 What Are Alternatives to a High School Diploma?

Chapter Preface 78

1 The GED Is a Valuable Alternative to High School for Hispanics Richard Fry 80

2 GED Offers "Minimal Value" Mary Pilon 87

3 A More Difficult and Expensive GED Puts a Burden on Test Takers Kavitha Cardoza 92

4 A Harder GED Is Coming, and It's a Good Thing for Students James E. Causey 99

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 104

Chapter 3 Are Charter and Magnet Schools Good Alternatives for Students?

Chapter Preface 106

1 Charter Schools Improve High School Graduation Rates Kevin Booker Tim R. Sass Brian Gill Ron Zimmer 108

2 Why Charter Schools Need Better Oversight Jeff Bryant 120

3 Charter Schools Financially Starve Neighborhood Schools Timothy Meegan 128

4 Charter High Schools Improve Outcomes for Minority Students Jackie Hardy 133

5 Magnet Schools Promote Diversity and Improve Student Performance Genevieve Siegel-Hawley Erica Frankenberg 138

6 Funding of Connecticut Magnet Schools Is Unfair and Unsustainable Robert A. Frahm 147

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 155

Chapter 4 Is Online Learning a Good Alternative for High School Students?

Chapter Preface 157

1 Motivating High School Students in Online Courses Is Difficult Elizabeth Murphy María A. Rodíguez-Manzanares 159

2 Consider Alternative Schooling: Column Glenn Harlan Reynolds 172

3 Online K-12 Schools in Colorado Are Failing Students Burt Hubbard Nancy Mitchell 177

4 MOOC: Will These Four Letters Change K-12? Michelle Locke 187

5 Massive Open Online Courses Are Overhyped and Have Serious Problems for K-12 Audrey Watters 194

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 202

For Further Discussion 203

Organizations to Contact 205

Bibliography of Books 210

Index 214