Alternative Education Programs

Alternative Education Programs

Published: 6/30/2026 2:38 PM

​​​​​This website will provide guidance and assistance to alternative education programs (AEP) and ensure continuous improvement in instruction, practices and curriculum to help all students to be college and career ready.  ​

KRS 160.380​ defines alternative education program means a program that exists to meet the needs of students that cannot be addressed in a traditional classroom setting but through the assignment of students to alternative classrooms, centers, or campuses that are designed to remediate academic performance, improve behavior, or provide an enhanced learning experience. Alternative education programs do not include career or technical centers or departments.

704 KAR 19:002 outlines requirements of alternative education programs. AEP includes onsite (AEP within an A1 school) and offsite (A5 and A6 classified schools). A5 classification is defined as district-operated alternative education program with no definable attendance boundaries designed to remediate academic performance, improve behavior, or provide an enhanced learning experience. A6 classification is defined as KECSAC funded program serving state agency children. Blended offsite programs, those that server district placed and KECSAC students are classified as A6.

Students placed in an AEP long-term (10 or more consecutive school days) must have an Individual Learning Plan Addendum (ILPA). The only exception are students who have an active Individual Education Plan (IEP).​​

Guidance

Guidance​​ for Alternative Education Programs per 704 KAR 19:002

Alternative Education Programs/ILPA in Student Information System

Full Online Program Description

Individual Learning Plan Addendum (ILPA) Checklist

Related Resources

Alternative Education Program Quality Indicators Rubric

Kentucky Center for School Safety (KCSS)

Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC)​

KDE's Dual Credit Scholarship website

National Dropout Prevention Center​

Supporting Transient Student Credit Accumulation

Regulations/Statutes

703 KAR 5:240 - Accountability administrative procedures and guidelines

KRS 158.135​ - Reimbursement for school services of state agency children

505 KAR 1:080 - Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children

​​​Leticia Porter​
Office of Continuous Improvement and Support
Division of Student Success
300 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-4772
Fax (502) 564-7820