Students' and Staff Members' Perceptions of an Alternative School for Disruptive Students in a Rural School Setting in North Carolina: An Intrinsic Case Study

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the perceptions of students and staff members regarding their experiences in an alternative learning program for disruptive students in a rural school setting. The research involved two data-gathering techniques: onsite interviews and observations. The objective was to determine (a) how students and staff in the alternative learning programs experienced schooling and what meanings they attached to these experiences, (b) what disruptive students perceived as the major impact of the alternative learning program on their self-esteem and social behavior, and (c) what staff members perceived as the major impact of the alternative learning programs on students' self-esteem and social behavior. Findings from the study were used to answer three research questions relative to the alternative education programs for disruptive students and to make recommendations for program improvements.