Freedom Schools of the South: The beginning of contemporary alternative education

By Dr. LaToya Brown

Did you know that many scholars recognize the Freedom Schools established in the southern United States as the first contemporary alternative school.? Freedom Schools were developed to combat the systemic oppression and inadequate education experienced of Black people in conventional school settings. However, the community based approach to education supported whole communities.

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (1964) established the inaugural Freedom School as part of the Civil Rights Movement. Freedom Schools were grounded in a community school framework approach and to provide  high-quality education to Black communities in the southern United States. The Freedom Schools were often held in local church basements and storefronts. According to literature, the curriculum focused on civic participation and engagement in local politics. 

Freedom Schools offered educational opportunities to the Black community providing them with an opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to attain social and economic liberation. From 1964 to 1969, a total of 41 freedom schools were established, serving around 2,500 students. These schools were recognized as pioneers in the development of alternative education during that time period.

This month we are hosting an online webinar devoted to learning, understanding, and growing as we partner with the WhyTry organization.

Thursday February 8th!

*To register, please fill out this form, and we will send you the webinar link. If you can't make it for the live event, we will send you a recording of the webinar the next day so you can watch it at your convenience.*  

Dr. LaToya Brown (President-Elect) and Dr. Mary Cullen Frazier (Executive Director) were recently interviewed by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO is a federal agency that conducts unbiased and evidence-based research for Congress. They are currently conducting a study on the disciplinary practices affecting girls in K-12 schools, also known as "Pushout”. The study primarily focuses on educational challenges and experiences of girls who identify as Black, LBGTQ, and those with a disability. The study is being carried out upon the request of the House Committee on Appropriations and Representatives Pelosi and Pressley. 

Drs Brown and Frazier offered valuable insights into girls' perspectives on safety and trust within educational institutions, systemic barriers related to legislature, policies, practices, and professional development, as well as key strengths of alternative and non-traditional learning environments that supports student success. The research findings will be released summer 2024.  

Region 1



Chariho Alternative Learning Academy students in grades one through four explore science concepts in nature through Maisey’s Tree Farm

CALA Ashaway students and staff have been exploring Maisey’s Tree Farm, L3C in Hope Valley this school year, with a different nature theme and activity each month.

Students and staff have been making local connections at Maisey’s Tree Farm and University of Rhode Island’s Guiding Education in Math and Science Network (GEMS-Net) resources. Students are invited to experience and explore the many wonders of forests. 

For example, in September students learned about the many benefits of trees and how to identify various trees. In October, students were given a guided mushroom walk and in November, farm staff introduced students to tree structure and function. Many trips also include an art component with drawing or clay and a story at the farm. This December the focus was on conifers and in January students processed acorns and made walnut ink. The highlight to date was when students learned about maple sugaring and were able to taste tapped sugar water!  

According to teacher Adrienne Buckley, “The students love being in the woods and learn a lot in that environment. We explore in the woods by observing and finding things we have learned about. It is a constant exploration and discussion of all of our Science curriculum, from gravity to erosion and deposition”. 

These trips are supported in part by the Academy’s Comprehensive Support and Improvement Plan (CSIP) funding. For more information on alternative PBL curriculum and programming please visit cala.chariho.k12.ri.us.

Region 2

Congratulations to Chad Lowe, recipient of The REB Award for Teaching Excellence. Mr. Lowe is a history teacher at the Academy of Virginia Randolph, an alternative school located in Henrico, Virginia. He was recognized as one of nine educators recognized for outstanding instruction for 2023. Mr. Lowe is the first alternative educator to be recognized for this award. In addition to this announcement, he received $15,000 to travel to major U.S. and European cities to research governmental differences and observe various instructional approaches in successful inner-city schools. The Community Foundation identifies, recognizes and supports teaching excellence in the Richmond, Virginia area. Awards are given to nominees who have distinguished themselves through their inspiring performance in the classroom. Mr. Lowe was surprised with this announcement just in the beginning of November.  

On behalf of Region 2 of the National Alternative Education Association, it is my pleasure to give Mr. Lowe a formal acknowledgment from our association. This recognition is a prime example of how important non-tradition educators are to the mission and vision of the larger educational community.

Region 3

An Alternative School in Nashville, Tennessee Launch

"HAWKS TALK" Podcast 

We are thrilled to announce the official launch of Johnson Learning Center's very own podcast, "HAWKS TALK," which debuted on January 15, 2024. This exciting new venture is not just a milestone for our program but a beacon of inspiration and learning for our entire community. 

What is "HAWKS TALK"? 

"HAWKS TALK" embodies the spirit and values of our center - Hopeful, Audacious, Wise, Kindred, and Successful. Each episode features our bright students engaging in stimulating conversations with a variety of influential figures, including district principals, support hub staff, and other notable community leaders. 

Why Listen to "HAWKS TALK"? 

- Empowering Insights: Hear firsthand how our guests demonstrate the HAWKS values in their lives. - Student-Driven Content: Be inspired by the curiosity and intelligence of our students as they lead these discussions. 

- Connect with the Community: Discover new perspectives and stories from our diverse community.

Where to Find Us 

Great news! "HAWKS TALK" is available on all major podcast platforms. Whether you’re a fan of Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or any other platform, we’ve got you covered. 

Join Our Journey 

This podcast is more than just an educational tool; it's a reflection of our commitment to recalibrating, restoring, and reconnecting our students with themselves, their education, and their community. It resonates with our motto to "Be Mindful, Be Inspired, Be Better," and we are excited for you to be part of this transformative experience. 

Tune In, Share, and Support 

We invite you to tune in to "HAWKS TALK." Your listening support, sharing with friends and family, and feedback will make this endeavor even more successful. Let's spread the word and make "HAWKS TALK" a staple in our community's listening habits. 

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Together, let's celebrate this new chapter in our journey toward excellence in education and community engagement.

Region 5

The Alchemist: the Art of Transformation

Recognizing Student Art and Writing

Recently issue #22/23 of the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs student division (STARS), The Alchemist, came out. Created over 20 years ago as a venue for student’s writing and artwork, interest in this magazine has grown. Over the years various MAAP teachers have taken on the editing of the student’s work and turned that work into a well-received magazine used to spotlight student work but also used as a great tool for showing various powers that be what alternative students can accomplish when given the opportunity.  

Throughout the year teachers are encouraged to send in their student’s creative writings be it poetry, fiction, essays on pertinent topics, etc. Students with a more visually artistic bent send in artwork they’ve created in a variety of artforms: pen and ink, pencil drawings, paintings, craftwork, graffiti work, etc. There should be no more than three separate items from each student. (Consider the fact that there are over 125,000 alternative education students in the states, even three could make dealing with the volume of submissions problematic.) Student work is individually identified within the magazine with student name, grade level, school name, and teacher’s name.  

Putting together The Alchemist can be a challenge but a very rewarding one. Currently the magazine is editor is a retired Alternative Ed. English teacher. Each year submissions are asked for and deadlines are put in place with some wiggle room. Readying all of the entries to be placed on the 40-80 pages usually in the magazine is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Varying lengths of written works with full page sized artwork makes things very interesting. Use of text boxes which can be moved around on the page is very helpful. The use of clip art to fill odd blank spaces makes the composition more colorful and cohesive.

Printing the publication is usually done in a simple copied format although in the past CDs have been cut and given to schools whose student’s works were included in The Alchemist so individual copies could be printed out and given to each student. Limited full color copies were available. 2023 saw a more finished Alchemist printed.  

The Alchemist has come to be a wonderful advertisement for what is happening within our alternative programs. It has been passed on to legislators where it has been given great reviews. Students can add to their resumes their inclusions in The Alchemist, a win-win situation for them. Creating this magazine has added a whole new dimension to encouraging student’s creativity and building pride in their accomplishments.

For more information about The Alchemist, feel free to contact the magazine’s editor at alchemisteditor@gmail.com.

Samples:

My emotions are mixed---I can’t tell which is which.

I just wish there was a switch so I could

flip through the years

I’ve missed.

Student

Grand Rapids ALC

Student

Grand Rapids ALC

Region 7

Montana - Wyoming Collaboration for Alternative School Development: representatives from Red Lodge toured the school and met with Region 7's Director, Principal Blatt, to discuss their school as Red Lodge designs their new alternative school. Collaboration is a key element in the success of alternative programs!

Region 8

2024 Conference Registration goes live February 14th!

Join us in Tucson, Arizona for our 2024 Annual Conference: October 7-9

​The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa