Our School
What is Saratoga School?
We are an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE), within the Stanwood-Camano School District, where the parent, guardian, or another adult is the primary instructor at home. We often use the term “Parent Partnership”. Saratoga School offers an alternative approach to educating students by partnering with parents and/or guardians. Our family partners assume shared responsibility for planning, implementing and guiding the education of students.
With the guidance of a Washington State Certified Teacher, a parent or guardian is highly involved in designing and implementing an educational program specifically for his or her student’s unique learning style and needs. Saratoga’s personalized approach provides the flexibility to adapt learning experiences to accommodate diverse family circumstances and unique student needs while ensuring quality and alignment with state educational standards.
Saratoga School operates under Washington State Law governing Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs. The full text of WAC 392-121-182 can be found by searching the Washington State Legislature’s web page at www.leg.wa.us.
How is Saratoga School different from homeschooling?
Home-based Instruction and enrollment in an ALE are different educational models.
Home-based instruction includes the following:
- Instruction is developed and supervised by the parent or guardian as authorized under RCW 28A.200 and 28A.225.010.
- The parent has filed an annual Declaration of Intent with the district.
- Students are neither enrolled nor eligible for graduation through a public high school unless they meet all district and state graduation requirements.
- Students are not subject to the rules and regulations governing public school, including course, graduation, and assessment requirements.
- The public school is under no obligation to provide instruction or instructional materials, or to supervise the student’s education.
Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) includes the following:
- Is a public education enrollment option authorized under WAC 392-550.
- Subject to all state and federal rules and regulations governing public education.
- Curriculum and instructional materials meet district standards and are free from sectarian control or influence.
Learning experiences are:
- Supervised, monitored, assessed, and evaluated by a certificated teacher.
- May be planned in collaboration with the student, parent, and teacher.
- Provided via a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP).
- Provided in whole, or part, outside the regular classroom.
- For a sample description in Spanish, please contact Learning Options at learningoptions@k12.wa.us.
Can my student be enrolled part-time at Saratoga?
Yes. Students can be enrolled for some courses/subjects through Saratoga and also attend their local “neighborhood” school within our school district. Please contact your child’s neighborhood school to see how this might work for your situation. Considerations such as transportation, course offerings, workload, and the overall school experience are all factors that may influence your decision. In this situation students remain 100% enrolled in the school district.
Some families may also be enrolled part-time at Saratoga with additional time with home-based instruction. Home-based instruction students may not have access to ancillary services and may enroll in a public school course, such as an alternative learning experience program, on a part-time basis where space is available. Part time enrollment is defined as being less than full-time enrollment. In these cases, the student is responsible for maintaining acceptable attendance, and meeting all course and school requirements. For an alternative learning experience, this will mean meeting the requirements of the written student learning plan. The student continues to be considered a home-based instruction student when enrolled part-time in a public school setting.
Therefore, parents must still file a ‘declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction with the district, as well as an ‘ancillary services’ document.
How does Saratoga support high quality education?
Saratoga School’s certificated teachers collaborate with parents for the benefit of each student’s unique educational needs. Together, they will work with parents to map out a solid but adaptable learning plan that allows personalized learning while remaining aligned with state standards. Saratoga will provide the resources necessary to support high-quality coursework and learning. Resources provided through Saratoga must be substantially similar to those available to other students in the Stanwood-Camano School District. Your certificated partner teacher and other Saratoga staff will work closely with you to enable your child to meet the highest expectations appropriate to his or her individual goals and circumstances.
What are the requirements for Saratoga?
Saratoga School operates under the rules and regulations of Washington State Law (WAC 392-121-182), governing Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs. ALE rules allow public school students to deviate from classroom-based learning environments and schedules while still being supervised by a certified teacher. Much of the learning occurs away from traditional school settings, so student progress and achievement is tracked and documented through alternate methods. As a participant in publicly funded education through Saratoga, parents and students experience the flexibility and control offered through our ALE program by working with Saratoga teachers to plan courses, set learning goals and keep track of student progress toward the designed learning goals.
The following basic ALE requirements form the basis for communication and collaboration concerning a student’s educational program at Saratoga:
- Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP)
- Weekly Student/Teacher Contact
- Satisfactory Monthly Progress
- Annual Assessment
By meeting these requirements, parents and students help compile a record of each student’s progress and achievement of learning goals.
Can I use my own curriculum?
Any subject on a students learning plan must be supported with core curriculum that is approved through our school district policies. Core curriculum is decided by the certificated teacher with guidance from families to meet the individual needs of their student. All core curriculum is provided to families. You are allowed and encouraged to supplement with additional materials that might meet your own child’s and/or family needs and values, but those materials will not be included on the learning plan nor purchased by the district. If you would like to use your own core curriculum for a subject, this might be a subject that is better identified as HBI (home-based instruction), and your child may be enrolled as part-time.