by Amy Schwiderski, Instructor of Education, Intern Advisor, Illinois College

If a high school student is placed on bed rest because of pregnancy or injuries sustained in a car accident, is there a way for the student to continue earning credits toward graduation?  In Jacksonville, there is!  Illinois College collaborated with the alternative school (known as “Lafayette Center”) operated by the Brown/Cass/Morgan/Scott Regional Office of Education (ROE) #46, to implement a “Place-Bound Learners Program” to address the needs of students who are temporarily unable to attend classes.  This program loans laptop computers to place-bound students to assure that their educational progress is not interrupted by their temporary circumstances. 

The Place-Bound Learners Program provided an important new educational service for Lafayette Center students.  In its first year (2006-07), the program served nine students who were hospitalized, on bed rest, caring for their infants, incarcerated, in residential treatment for drug/alcohol abuse, or awaiting an opening for placement at the Lafayette Center.  Illinois College students were trained to provide one-on-one tutoring and supervision of the place-bound students.  These pre-service teachers gained valuable practicum experiences that aligned with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.

Illinois College used the ACI Innovations grant to purchase eight laptop computers for the Program.  The College provided free dial-up internet access for any student who needed it.  The Program used the NOVEL/STARS online curriculum, which was already in place at the Lafayette Center.  Aaron Llewellyn, Assistant Director of the Lafayette Center, trained three pre-service teachers and two Illinois College instructors in using NOVEL/STARS to monitor students’ progress. 

The benefits of the program are continuing to accrue.  Each year, Illinois College faculty, instruct pre-service teachers who are available to tutor place-bound Lafayette Center students.  Illinois College continues to provide free internet access to place-bound students.  Illinois College facilities (i.e., Education Department computer lab, etc.) are available for exam proctoring and tutoring.  Students who benefited from the program in 2006-07 have now graduated in 2007 and 2008; others will graduate in future years.  Instead of dropping out, these students have stayed in school to continue progress toward their high school diploma. 

The new practices demonstrated in this Program can be replicated in other regions of Illinois.  ROE #46 is one of 82 Illinois education agencies that received Truants’ Alternative and Optional Education Program (TAOEP) funds in FY’07.  Any of these education agencies can collaborate with a nearby college or university teacher preparation program. 

The NOVEL/STARS software is a comprehensive middle and high school curriculum consisting of 33 subjects that meet the learning standards for all 50 states.  This software is made available free of charge to TAOEP recipients.  (Beginning in 2008-09, all TAOEP recipients will be switching to APEX Learning software, which provides a comparable curriculum.)

Providers can gain access to laptop computers through grants for equipment from community service organizations (i.e., Rotary, etc.), computer recycling programs, state/federal used equipment auctions, and industry/corporate donations.  Institutions of higher education can provide free access via dial-up (as Illinois College did).  Local Internet service providers may provide in-kind support for an “introductory” period of service for place-bound students.

Working with high-need students helped Illinois College pre-service teachers to be more empathetic to the challenges and burdens that many students must overcome to stay in school and earn a high school degree.  Using this relatively low-cost, replicable model, other ACI member institutions can serve “place-bound” students while preparing their pre-service teachers for employment in high-need schools.

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