Turina Parker
Principal of Alternative Education
Southern Adirondack Education Center
1051 Dix Avenue
Hudson Falls, NY 12839
Voice: (518) 581-3500/746-3500
Fax: (518) 581-3517/746-3517
E-Mail: tuparker@wswheboces.org

BOCES operates an Alternative High School program at the  Southern Adirondack Education Center (SAEC) in Hudson Falls.

Alternative Education at WSWHE BOCES is broken into two components.  One is the Alternative High School which leads to high school diploma.  The other is the GED or General Equivalency Diploma.

The Alternative High School, located on the Southern Adirondack Education Center, provides a thematic curriculum aligned with the New York State Learning Standards. The use of technology, community development, and experiential lesson designs are some of the innovations utilized to add meaning and positive involvement to the student’s school experience. Students earn Regents units of credit which may be transferred back to the home school and all academic instruction is consistent with the regular education program.

Alternative education students are selected by their home school district. Students may have experienced or displayed: poor attendance; lack of motivation; poor academic achievement; poor interpersonal skills; problems with authority and disruptive behavior. When selected to attend the Alternative High School, students commit to complete their academic requirements.  Students also are given support on developing plans to improve their life and interpersonal skills. Close cooperation and communication with the home school district and parents/guardians are integral parts of the program.

Alternative High Students are encouraged to participate in career and technical education programs to develop their skills. Washington County Head Start also offers an infant and toddler daycare for Alternative High School parenting students.

Preparation for the General Education Development (GED) test is another alternative available to eligible students. To be eligible for GED preparation students must be 16-21 years of age, with a reading and mathematics achievement at the 9th grade level, and they must have experienced academic failure in at least half of the their academic classes in which they were previously enrolled. These programs are located at both the Myers Center and the Southern Adirondack Education Center. Included in the program are opportunities for career and technical education, work experience, life skills instruction and individualized attention.

• Regents level curriculum
• Friendly and caring staff
• Nationally Certified staff
• Non-violent school
• Community development
• Opportunities for intramural sports
• Credits are awarded in ½ units for all classes (semestering)
• Small classes (class size maximum is 15)
• Staff knows students styles and responds to them
• Teachers have the opportunity to work one-on-one
• Students have sense of camaraderie
• Students tend to improve their course pass rate
• Students tend to improve their attendance rates
• Upon graduation, students have moved on to 2 and 4 year colleges, trade schools, the service, and the work force
• Career and Technical courses available
• On-sight Daycare offered by Washington County Head Start at SAEC

* GED preparation eligibility: Students must be 16-21 years of age, with a reading and mathematics achievement at the 9th grade level, and they must have experienced academic failure in at least half of the their academic classes in which they were previously enrolled.

Day care is available to students at the Southern Adirondack Education Center (SAEC). Pregnant and parenting teens are provided with parenting education and case management which complements their regular alternative or special education programs. Many are also enrolled in half-day career and technical education.