(a)

1. (1) To be placed in an ALE, a student must:

   1. (A) Need innovative programs and strategies that typically cannot be provided through regular school options; and
   2. (B) Be experiencing or exhibiting two (2) or more of the situations or characteristics below that negatively affect the student’s academic and social progress:

(i) Ongoing, persistent lack of attaining proficiency levels in literacy and mathematics;

1. (ii) Abuse:

(b) (b) Mental; or

1. (c) (c) Sexual;

   1. (iii) Frequent relocation of residency;

      1. (iv) Homelessness;
      2. (v) Inadequate emotional support;
      3. (vi) Mental/physical health problems;
      4. (vii) Pregnancy;
      5. (viii) Being a single parent;
      6. (ix) Personal or family problems or situations;
      7. (x) Recurring absenteeism;
      8. (xi) Dropping out of school; or
      9. (xii) Disruptive behavior.
2. (2) Students will not be placed in the ALE based on academic problems alone.

(b)

1. (1) A student may be enrolled in an ALE only on the referral of an Alternative Education Placement Team to be composed of the following individuals:

   1. (A) The school counselor from the referring school;
   2. (B) The building principal or assistant principal from the referring school;
   3. (C) One (1) or more of the student’s regular classroom teachers;
   4. (D) A local education agency special education or 504 representative, if applicable;
   5. (E) A parent or guardian of the student, if they choose to participate; and
   6. (F) An ALE administrator or ALE teacher, or both.
2. (2) At the option of the school district, the student may be included as a member of the Alternative Education Placement Team.

3. (3) The school district shall:

   1. (A) Document efforts to contact the parent or guardian to schedule a meeting or a phone call for a placement meeting at the parent’s or guardian’s convenience; and

   2. (B) Maintain such documentation in the student’s Student Action Plan.

      1. (c) The ALE program shall:
4. (1) Assess the student either before or upon entry into the ALE;
5. (2) Provide intervention services designed to address the student’s specific educational needs; and

6. (3) Provide nonpunitive intervention services designed to address the student’s specific behavioral needs for long-term improvement of the student’s ability to control his or her behavior.

   1. (d)

7. (1) No later than one (1) week after a student begins alternative education interventions, the Alternative Education Placement Team shall:

   1. (A) Assess the student’s current functioning abilities and all relevant social, emotional, academic, career, and behavioral information; and
   2. (B) Develop a Student Action Plan outlining the intervention services to be provided to the student.

8. (2)

   1. (A) The Student Action Plan shall contain at a minimum:

      1. (i) A plan of intervention services to be provided to address:

(b) (b) If appropriate, the student’s behavioral needs;

1. (ii) Goals and objectives necessary to achieve positive reintegration into the regular educational environment;

   1. (iii) Exit criteria on which to base a student’s return to the regular educational environment;

      1. (iv) Documentation of the presence of the characteristics listed in subdivision (a)(1) of this section for which the student was referred; and
      2. (v) Documentation of the specific ALE programming and supports that will address each identified characteristic or situation causing a barrier to the student’s success.
   2. (B) The Student Action Plan may be revised from time to time by the Alternative Education Placement Team as circumstances warrant.