• Alternative schools adapt to the diverse needs of students.school image by Jerome Dancette from Fotolia.com
  
  In Oregon, as in other states, alternative schools operate privately or under a traditional public school district with their own curriculum. Teachers working in these schools adapt their styles to the specific needs of students that find the traditional public school system unsatisfactory or challenging. With projected growth in the education job market, Oregon alternative school jobs are viable opportunities with their challenges, rewards and potential.
  
  

Basics

• Alternative education was originally created for helping the most at-risk students, cites the Oregon Employment Department (OED). Now, according to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Oregon has many alternative programs and schools for supporting students' full academic potential. According to 2004 data, most alternative programs were in the public school system (47.5 percent) and presented the majority of alternative school jobs. Alternative programs constituted 31.5 percent in private schools, 11.1 percent in community colleges and 9.9 percent in educational service districts, according to the ODE. The characteristics of those who typically use alternative education programs are those failing or exceeding academic standards, are pregnant or parenting, are needing behavioral support, have been expelled, have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out.
  
  

Schools

• For those interested in alternative school jobs, knowing the nature of potential school environments can be beneficial. Examples of private and public alternative schools are those within the Portland Public Schools (PPS) system and in Open Meadow, a private school serving North Portland.
  
  

Private

• Open Meadow, though a private school, works in harmony with area public schools in helping students make the transition from middle school to high school, and from high school to college. Commonly they adopt students who have somehow reached a disconnect in their learning but are still eager to learn.
  
  Open Meadow
  
  7621 N. Wabash Ave.
  
  Portland, OR 97217
  
  503-978-1935
  
  openmeadow.org
  
  

Public

• PPS shares a similar mission and employs a special department, Education Options, which is devoted to alternative programs. Challenges typically faced--which are not exclusive to public schools but are particularly found in the PPS system--are working with homeless youth, those challenged by drug and alcohol problems and those involved with the juvenile justice system.
  
  Education Options
  
  501 N. Dixon
  
  Portland, OR 97227
  
  503-916-5437
  
  pps.k12.or.us
  
  

Outlook

• Projected job growth in Oregon's education sector is 12 percent from 2004 to 2014. The most rapid growth is expected in private schools and universities, which indicates that there may eventually be more alternative education job opportunities in private alternative schools.