A commitment to provide all students with the necessary skills to thrive as 21st century learners, workers, and citizens.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools
2512 George Mason Drive
P.O. Box 6038
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456-0038
757.263.1000 757.263.1240 TDD

Alternative Education
Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) Grades 9-12

What is the Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP)?
The Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) is a Commonwealth of Virginia initiative to provide an opportunity for students ages 16-17 to work toward a General Education Development (GED) Certificate and a vocational/career skill without dropping out of school. Students must be referred and must qualify to be admitted to this program. This program will only be considered for students after all measures to maintain students in a diploma program have been exhausted.

Who may be considered for this program?
An enrolled student who is at least 16 years old and not more than 17 years old who is not performing academically, is considering dropping out of school, and appears unlikely to complete a traditional high school diploma program may be considered for this program. An ISAEP student must be at least one full year behind in credits compared to his/her ninth grade cohort or overage and not yet reached the ninth grade. Students and/or parents should contact a teacher, counselor, or administrator in their school to begin the referral process to ISAEP.

How are students referred to the program?
Teachers, guidance counselors, parents, and administrators refer currently enrolled students to the home school Student Support Team for the purpose of developing an ISAEP. Students under reenrollment mandates will be referred to either Open Campus or the Adult Learning Center based on their reenrollment plan. Students who have been withdrawn or dropped out of school for less than a year will be referred to their home school to begin the ISAEP process. The following students should be referred to the Office of Student Leadership, Coordinator of Student Services/Home School Program:

  • Students who have been withdrawn or dropped out of school for more than a year
  • Students who have been home schooled
  • Students returning from the Commonwealth Challenge Program

ISAEP referral procedure:

Step 1 – Initial Meeting With Student/Parent/Principal

A meeting is scheduled with the school principal or designee, the parent/guardian, the student, and the school’s ISAEP coordinator. At this meeting, the principal or designee will provide full disclosure of the relevant aspects of the program, written descriptions of the required program components, a listing of the parties involved in developing and implementing the ISAEP, and complete information regarding an academic and career and technical education assessment. At this meeting, the principal or designee will explain to parents and students the following options for fulfilling the compulsory attendance requirement:

  1. Remain in the regular school program
  2. Request referral for enrollment in an alternative education program and/or center
  3. Participate in the GED program at the Adult Learning Center for students ages 18-22
  4. Request participation in the ISAEP program at Open Campus for students ages 16 or 17
If option four is chosen, the student will continue to step 2.

Step 2 – Student Assessment and Evaluation

Students planning to fulfill compulsory attendance requirements by completing an ISAEP must first demonstrate that they have the ability to benefit from such a program. A reading achievement test, the GED Practice Test, and a career and technical assessment will be conducted.

  1. Students are evaluated using a nationally normed reading test administered at the home school by the ISAEP coordinator. Students must score 7.5 grade equivalent or higher.
  2. After demonstrating a 7.5 grade equivalent or higher, the student will be scheduled to take the GED Practice Test at Open Campus. This test indicates current student achievement in the core areas tested by the GED and indicates student strengths and areas of concern. The home school ISAEP coordinator will notify the parent and student of the scheduled test date and time. Students must score 410 or higher on each of the subtests of the Official GED Practice Test.
  3. The ISAEP program coordinator at Open Campus will send the GED Practice Test results to the home school ISAEP coordinator who schedules a follow-up student/parent/principal meeting.
Step 3 – Meeting With Student/Parent/ISAEP Home School Coordinator
  1. Parent/guardian and student are given the results of the Practice GED test.
    1. If the student qualifies and the parent agrees, the process to develop an Individual Student Alternative Education Plan for the student is begun by the home school’s coordinator.
    2. If the student does not qualify, the school’s Student Support Team must reconvene to re-evaluate the best educational plan for the student.
  2. The home school ISAEP coordinator discusses: career guidance counseling, mandatory ISAEP attendance requirements for 16 and 17 year olds, the economic impact of failing to complete high school, provisions for re-enrollment in the home high school (if necessary), and the career and technical skills component.
  3. The student is referred to ISAEP.

Step 4 – ISAEP Ongoing Activities

  1. Academic preparation for the GED test is provided in the ISAEP lab located at Open Campus.
  2. A career and technical skills assessment is administered and reviewed at Open Campus.
  3. Career counseling is provided which includes discussion of emerging career opportunities.
  4. Updated information is provided to students and parents on additional career opportunities as a result of the student’s improved academic and occupational preparation.
  5. Regular reports are issued to both students and parents of the student’s progress in academic and occupational preparation.
Step 5 – Exiting ISAEP Process

The student may exit the program in one of three ways:
  1. Completes all components of the ISAEP successfully including passing the Official GED Test.
  2. Re-enrolls in his/her regular home school or an alternative education program.
  3. Withdraws from ISAEP. Note: students under the age of 18 who are in non-attendance are subject to court involvement under compulsory school attendance laws.

When can the student begin ISAEP?
Once the student’s eligibility for ISAEP is established and an opening exists in the program, the student and parent/guardian will meet with the ISAEP instructor at Open Campus for orientation. The home school ISAEP coordinator will contact the ISAEP instructor at Open Campus to schedule this registration appointment/orientation.

How long does a student participate in ISAEP?
Students must be enrolled in the program until they have met the measurable academic and career and technical education goals outlined in their ISAEP and all other requirements for program completion.

What happens to students who withdraw from ISAEP?
Students may re-enroll in their home school or consider applying for admission to an alternative center. Students under the age of 18 who choose to discontinue involvement in ISAEP and drop out of school are subject to court involvement under compulsory school attendance laws.

Is transportation provided?
Bus transportation is available for students.

Whom can I contact for additional information about ISAEP?
ISAEP Program Facilitator: Barbara Sturino
E-mail: barbara.sturino@vbschools.com
ISAEP Program Assistant: Lisa Belcher
273 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23453
Telephone: 757.473.5058 Ext. 64314
Fax: 757.473.5684
Hours:
Session 1 Monday – Thursday 7:25 a.m. – 10:36 a.m.
Session 2 Monday – Thursday 10:39 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Session 3 Monday – Thursday 2:20 – 5:30 p.m.
Session 4 Tuesday & Thursday 5:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.