Alternative Education

The ECOESC currently operates two alternative education schools. Our S.T.A.R. school is located in New Philadelphia and provides services to the school districts in the northern part of our service region. Our other alternative school is the Belmont County Alternative Program (BCAP) and is located in St. Clairsville to provide services to our southern school districts.

The STAR School is an East Central Ohio Educational Service Center alternative school for behavior problem or truant adolescents. The STAR School simulates a school environment, providing a structured academic program. Students are given guidance in accepting responsibilities in the areas of attendance, punctuality, participation, assigned tasks, and behavior while attending the STAR School.  Students are ages 11-21, in grades 6-12.

The core curriculum provides subjects meeting the requirements of their home school and the content standards mandated by the Ohio Department of Education. Subject areas include, but are not limited to, English, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Life Skills, and Physical Education.

Counseling is an important component in alternative education programs. Collaboration with community counseling programs such as; Southwest, Inc., Juvenile Court, Job and Family Services, COMPASS, Community Mental Health, the Tuscarawas County Health Department, The Village Network, Personal and Family Counseling, Alcohol & Drug Addiction meets this need. It works in partnership with the academic program to benefit students and families. Using a problem-solving approach, the integration of school, family, and community issues is essential to long-term behavioral change.

We provide to the student's home school and their parents a mid-term and nine week report card. All aspects of the reports are brought together through daily and weekly goal setting, evaluations, grades, and staff meetings. The progress report provides an opportunity to visibly see the progress the staff and student have made.

Admissions Criteria

• Students and parents must be willing to participate in all aspects of the program.
• High School students must demonstrate a minimum of a 4th grade reading level
• Students may exhibit control problems, but cannot pose a physical threat
• Students must reside with parent(s) or legal guardian in the ECOESC area.

Note:  If there is evidence of a substance abuse problem, concurrent treatment at another agency may be required

Benefits of our alternative schools

• Smaller classes
• Personalized math and reading computer programs
• GED prep course
• Life-skills courses
• Reading and math intervention
• One-on-one tutoring
• Low student to teacher ratio
• Vocational assessment

Looking for additional information? Contact one of our alternative education directors:

Jim Wright, Director of S.T.A.R

Jane Kalonick, Director of BCAP