ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Mission
Alternative Education Research Institute's mission is to assist socially and economically underserved youth and adults by developing specialized curricula designed to unite communities.
What is Alternative Education?
Alternative Education includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream non-traditional education. In that regard, AERI is dedicated to delivering quality alternative educational resources that are designed to provide a holistic as well as research-based approach to working with communities in need of positive social change.
Programs
Each of our programs are designed specifically to assist socially under-served populations by promoting academic and social success through community empowerment. We work with participants to create change in their own lives and exist with an increased sense of self-worth and confidence that fosters effective problem solving.
Our programs are also:
- tested with our research and development component to gauge the potential for success prior to implementation.
- conducted through a series of workshop style courses.
- presented in settings that encourage meaningful dialogue and goal setting for our students.
Program Descriptions
Below is an overview and brief set of descriptions of programs.
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Our innovative new EMPOWERMENT SERIES is set of researched-based reentry curriculum designed for formerly incarcerated youth and adults!
EMPOWERMENT (Reentry)
This series couples academic preparation with restorative justices models designed as an interventions subsequent to incarceration yet prior to full community immersion.
EMPOWERMENT (Parenting)
Our PARENTING SERIES is designed to assist parents work together as Mother and Father in non-traditional parenting relationship. This groundbreaking program allows parents to communicate and interact in safe, neutral and positive environments that ensures the success of the child.
EMPOWERMENT (Personal Wellness)
Our PERSONAL WELLNESS series in a set of researched-based holistic wellness educational modules that assist victims of trauma reflect and re-gain feelings of strength and safety in community settings.
EMPOWERMENT (Community Wellness)
Our COMMUNITY WELLNESS series are a set of educational techniques that are created for parents and children in high needs communities. This population-specific curricula is designed together with community members to address their specific needs.
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Character Education (K-12)
This program is an eight week course with lessons that are designed to focus on both intellectual and moral development. With the blending of academic and ethical ideals each lesson provides increased opportunities for students to develop scholastic acuity and personal integrity while developing quality relationships in school and in the community.
GED
Our GED program is designed to meet the needs of those participants seeking high school equivalency diploma. The course provides preparation and training program in the test topics, and includes special emphasis on the Language Arts (reading, writing) and math components.
Life Skills (Including "single" parenting and financial literacy)
In this course participants will learn valuable lessons about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, social skills / interactions, how to make positive life choices and general self-management. Students also learn how to define and set goals, identify and alter life choices and behavioral patterns that have led to negative consequences.
Literacy
This course will increase the participant’s ability to communicate effectively, i.e. to read, write, listen and speak. The approach to literacy instruction taught here combines language and literature activities, reading instruction and skills necessary to develop the fluency and comprehension that proficient readers possess. The literacy approach will vary according to the needs of the students.
Beginning Job Readiness Training (Soft Skills)
Participants will be taught non-technical skills, abilities, and traits that are needed to function in a specific employment environment, i.e., get a job, remain employed, and advance in an organization. Skills include workplace competencies such as problem-solving and other cognitive abilities, interpersonal communication, work ethics, and teamwork.
