A Literature Review Of Research Quality And Effective Practices In Alternative Education Settings

Effective behavioral practices for students with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) are critical. Students with E/BD are often served in alternative education (AE) settings due to behavior that cannot be supported in a typical school setting or due to court adjudication based on delinquent activity. Like other settings for students with E/BD, AE programs must utilize effective intervention practices for students to get the most out of the program and make appropriate behavioral changes. This review examined the literature base of behavioral interventions implemented in AE settings from 1970-2010 to assess the inclusion of nine effective practices recommended for use in alternative settings (Tobin & Sprague, 2000; Nelson, Sprague, Jolivette, Smith, & Tobin, 2009). A total of 39 articles were identified and analyzed that met the study criteria. Results indicated that only 29 studies included any of the effective practices. Additionally, small class size was the most frequently noted effective practice. Finally, the quality of research concerning behavior in AE settings appears to be quite low. Implications of this study and directions for future research are presented.