Alternative to Expulsion (ATE)
Working with local school corporations we provide teachers and schools an option to expelling kids. If a student makes a choice that could get them expelled, that student may be given the opportunity of either participating in Alternative to Expulsion or ATE or taking the expulsion and being removed from school for up to one school year. Reach for Youth's ATE program has a success rate of 96% for returning kids to school as productive students.
This provides the school a disciplinary offer for students who have made a first-time bad decision and want to find their way back into school.
Other schools use ATE as a “last chance.” It is up to the school administrator whether or not to offer ATE to the student. ATE is an option for students at schools with which Reach for Youth has a specific ATE agreement only.
Students who participate in ATE are offered a priority evaluation time, within five business days of the parent’s call to enroll. ATE Evaluations are offered at scheduled times during the morning and early afternoon at both of our locations. The student and at least one parent/guardian must attend the evaluation together. Evaluations are typically two hours in length.
Our therapists provide the evaluation services and discuss the treatment recommendations with the student and their parent/guardian. A written Service Plan will then be created and forwarded back to the referring school administrator which includes the specified treatment recommendations. As long as the student and family follow through with the recommendations the student is allowed to return to school and the expulsion is waived.
Recommended treatment could include educational programming and/or individual, family or group therapy. The evaluation therapist makes that decision based on the information obtained at the evaluation, the information forwarded from the school, and the type of referring incident.
School districts that do not have referral agreements with Reach for Youth are encouraged to contact us at rfy@reachforyouth.org or call us at 317-920-5900.
Current Schools/School Systems participating in ATE with Reach For Youth include:
- MSD of Perry Township
- MSD of Decatur Township
- Clark-Pleasant Schools (Whiteland)
- Greenwood Schools
- Center Grove Schools
- Irvington Community School.