A Thank You to ALL our Educators

​National Alternative Education Association
Anti-Racism Position and Belief Statement
Click to read our statement

​About the NAEA

The NAEA is a volunteer organization dedicated to information sharing and professional development, best practice, public policy, and advocacy for alternative learning and teaching. Created in 2002 through the efforts of several officers from the original Safe Schools Coalition (SSC), the Association has sponsored an annual conference on alternative education for the past several years. When the Safe Schools Coalition decided to disband, its officers were determined to continue the much needed work that had been started and created a national professional association dedicated to alternative educators and alternative education options.

At the annual meeting of the NAEA in February 2006, the final stage of transition occurred and the new organization is now directed by a group of volunteer, alternative educators. Nominations for officers are accepted prior to the conference, and elections are held during the annual membership meeting each year at the conference.

NAEA welcomes you to join in, share your experience and passion for alternative education.

Vision & Mission

Vision: 
To engage and empower alternative/non-traditional educators to positively impact students’ lives, by providing resources, advocacy, and professional learning.

Mission:
 1.  To provide a nationally unified voice of advocacy for students in alternative/non-traditional schools and programs to promote understanding and support from state departments and agencies, school districts, charters, and policy makers.
​
2.  To provide international, national, state, and regional opportunities for alternative education professionals and their partners to network, collaborate, and participate in professional learning specific to research and best practices in alternative/non-traditional education.

​Alternative Education Definition

Alternative education serves students who require or thrive in an environment other than a traditional educational setting. This population of learners may face challenges in school, home, and/or community. Their ability to receive services in a traditional academic setting may increase vulnerability to school failure. Alternative education strives to deliver equitable access to innovative approaches to teaching and learning which provide students the opportunity to meet graduation requirements, prepare for post-secondary experiences and participate as productive members of their communities.

Thank you to these sponsors for their ongoing contributions to the NAEA