
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 13, 1994                   TAG: 9409130063
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FINDINGS OF REPORT

These are some of the problems cited in a consultants' report on Roanoke's Alternative Education program:

A lack of certified teachers. Only nine of 20 teachers had valid teaching certificates. Many classes were being taught by teachers without certificates.

Absence of records on enrollment, attendance, finances, discipline and personnel evaluation.

Failure to follow School Board procedures and standards on finances and the maintenance of records.

Promotion of students by two grades in one year. Other irregularities in students' progress were also found.

Lax discipline.

Inadequate facilities for the alternative education program at Addison Magnet Middle School. The space had been a vocational shop.

Lack of evaluation of teacher performance or educational programs. It was impossible to determine what is working, what is not and what is cost-effective.

by CNB