Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth Programs provide a combination of intense individualized, academic instruction and behavior change, oriented in an alternative setting to assist students to return successfully to the regular classroom.

In 1995, Governor Ridge established the Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth Program as one component of his Safe Schools initiative. Act 30 was passed in 1997, which defined requirements.

Program requirements are as follows:

• Program must be developed in consultation with faculty, administration, parents and community.
  
• Identify and enroll eligible "disruptive" students after other established methods of discipline have been utilized.
  
• Provide instruction, recognizing the special needs of the students.
  
• Offer program 5 days a week.
  
• Offer program for 20 hours of instruction per week.
  

OR

Minimum of 15 hours, including at least four core subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health, or Life Skills) and show normal academic progress can be achieved.

• Permit students to make normal academic progress and achieve requirements for graduation.
  
• Provide a counseling component to help modify disruptive behavior.
  
• Prepare students to return to the regular classroom setting.
  
• Staff must hold a Level I or Level II professional teaching certificate.
  

Appalachia Intermediate Unit 08 provides the educational component for several alternative education programs run by private contractors in the four county area of the IU.