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History, Mission, & Vision
Our Core Values at NAEA
At NAEA, we are committed to fostering a community where alternative education thrives. Our core values guide our mission and shape our initiatives.
Connect
We strive 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.
Advocate
Our aim is to provide a nationally unified voice of advocacy for students in alternative/non-traditional schools. To promote understanding and support from state departments and agencies, school districts, charters, and policy makers. We believe to effect positive change in alternative education, we must focus on reforming alternative education statewide policies and practices.
Include
We believe that students in alternative settings have the same aptitudes and abilities as students in non-traditional settings. We believe in equity-focused education where all students have access to the same resources and educational rigor and support diversity in gender, age, sex, race, class, religion, neurodiversity, language, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We understand we will never win our commitment to working even harder for schools and communities who recognize the value and worth of all individuals.
Innovate
In an effort to enhance the quality of alternative education across the globe, the NAEA has created 15 Exemplary Practices from research to enhance the scope of resources for those unsuccessful in a traditional setting. We believe that as educators, we must support transformative educational research.
Our Vision and Mission
At NAEA, we strive to empower alternative educators to make a meaningful impact on students' lives. Our mission is to advocate for equitable access to innovative educational practices.
Our Vision
To engage and empower educators to positively influence students through advocacy and resources.
Our 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.
History of the NAEA
The National Alternative Education Association (NAEA) is a 100% 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.
