Program Information
Opportunity Education provides a supportive environment with specialized curriculum, instruction, guidance and counseling, psychological services, and tutorial assistance to help students overcome barriers to learning. It should not be viewed as a permanent placement for resistant learners but as a short-term intervention to ensure that students will succeed when they return to their regular classrooms.
- Opportunity Education E-mail List
Join the e-mail list to receive timely information about the establishment and operation of opportunity education programs. - Program Summary
Information on program purpose, services, outcomes, funding, students served, and results. - Opportunity School, Class, and Program Guidelines
Provides definitions and statutory requirements, and information on class size, curriculum and classroom learning strategies, counseling and guidance component, transition strategies, and guidelines for new Opportunity programs. - Directory of opportunity education program coordinators. (Updated Aug -2008)
Accountability
The Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) provides accountability for educational options schools serving very high-risk, highly mobile students. These schools include opportunity, community day, continuation, county community, juvenile court, Division of Juvenile Justice, and other alternative schools that meet stringent criteria set by the State Board of Education.
Resources
- Resources to support educational options programs and schools.
Pupil Retention Block Grant
Beginning in 2005-06, funding for the Opportunity Education Program will be included in the Pupil Retention Block Grant, established by Assembly Bill (AB) 825, Chapter 871, Statutes of 2004. The California Education Code sections that govern the Opportunity Education Program have been repealed.
Local educational agencies that received funding in 2003-04 for the Opportunity Education Program are eligible to receive funds from the Pupil Retention Block Grant and may utilize Pupil Retention Block Grant funding for any of the purposes of the programs included in that Block Grant, with only a few statutory limits. Please refer to the AB 825 Web site for specific information regarding the use of Pupil Retention Block Grant funds as well as the other Block Grants established by AB 825.
Contact Information
Program contact:
Dan Sackheim, Consultant
916-445-5595
Educational Options Office
Secondary,
Postsecondary, and Adult Leadership Division
California Department of Education
John F. Burns, Administrator
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-322-5012
