
HOW ALOP WORKS...
and why there are calls for expanding it to K-3
West40 ALOP, for example, allows for advocates to support students in their home school setting. West40 advocates are in nearly 40 schools across west suburban Cook County.
"Primarily what we’re looking at is the reason students get referred to our program, goal setting on that reason for referral and if we see growth with respect to that reason they were referred to our program, we consider our intervention to be successful," said Joe Gage, West40 Senior Director of Student Programs.
Sometimes all it takes is a safe space, a comfortable chair, and a trusted adult to help a student get back on the path toward graduation.
The Illinois School Code recognizes that some students will need educational support and other support services that are not currently provided by their regular school programs in order to achieve high standards. As a result, the state enables school districts to design and implement Alternative Learning Opportunities Programs (ALOPs) that can offer a range of interventions designed to help students in grades 4-12 improve their behavior, attendance and academics.
West40 ALOP in 2022-23:
9,673
Total Classes Passed
Completed The Program
1,938
Students Served
2,457
Mannheim School District 83 in west suburban Cook County recently expanded its ALOP to support students in fourth and fifth grade.
"We start in fourth grade with our families and our students and by the time they get to middle school they have been enhanced in regards to support services, connections with families. Families already know what to expect and how to be supported across that continuum of services," said District 83 superintendent Dr. Diego Giraldo.
Now there are growing calls in Illinois to expand ALOP to students in grades Kindergarten through Third Grade, which would require a new law to be approved.
"We recognize that student needs don’t develop in fourth grade. We see our students who are in need of support in fourth grade had a pattern of need that often started when they walked into the doors of school as a Kindergartener," said Gage. "Every bit of research in education supports early intervention and so our goal would be to intervene as early as possible so that we don’t have students in fourth, fifth, sixth or high school who’s struggling with the areas of struggle that we’re seeing now."
School districts that wish to establish ALOPs must first seek approval from the Illinois State Board of Education before enrolling students in such programs, according to the ISBE website.
Suggestions or comments contact:
communications@west40.org
