alternative education
Unconventional learning paths
Alternative education refers to schooling that departs from conventional classroom instruction—often in structure, philosophy, or student population.
Montessori, Waldorf, and homeschooling are alternative education approaches.
The term also covers programs for students who struggle in traditional settings: He was transferred to an alternative education program after repeated suspensions.
Family-directed academic instruction
- unschoolingSelf-directed home education
- online learningStudy conducted via internet
- charter schoolsIndependent public education institutions
- magnet schoolsTheme-focused public education
virtual schools · correspondence courses · GED programs · night school · community college · vocational training · trade schools · apprenticeship
Combined online and classroom education
- flipped classroomPre-class content, in-class practice
- gamificationAdding play mechanics elsewhere
- virtual realityComputer-created interactive environment
- adaptive learningInstruction adjusting to learner
STEAM · maker spaces · competency-based · learning pods · hybrid learning · personalized learning · augmented reality · coding bootcamps
Salad or school type
- MontessoriChild-led educational philosophy
- integrativeCombining into a whole
- experientialDerived from direct involvement
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
wellness · social-emotional · nature-based · place-based · project-based · values-based · free schools · forest schools
One who teaches themselves
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- independent studySelf-directed academic project
- self-pacedControlled by the learner
- self-motivationInner push to act
Atypical developmental or learning conditions
- accessibilityEase of approach
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
- individualizedAdapted for one person
- adaptiveAble to change accordingly
IEP · assistive technology · universal design · learning differences · neurodiversity · twice-exceptional · remedial · multilingual
homeschooling
Family-directed academic instruction
- unschoolingSelf-directed home education
- online learningStudy conducted via internet
- charter schoolsIndependent public education institutions
magnet schools · virtual schools · correspondence courses · GED programs · night school · community college · vocational training · trade schools · apprenticeship · gap year
blended learning
Combined online and classroom education
- flipped classroomPre-class content, in-class practice
- gamificationAdding play mechanics elsewhere
- virtual realityComputer-created interactive environment
adaptive learning · STEAM · maker spaces · competency-based · learning pods · hybrid learning · personalized learning · augmented reality · coding bootcamps · design thinking
Waldorf
Salad or school type
- MontessoriChild-led educational philosophy
- integrativeCombining into a whole
- experientialDerived from direct involvement
balance · wellness · social-emotional · nature-based · place-based · project-based · values-based · free schools · forest schools · Steiner
autodidact
One who teaches themselves
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- independent studySelf-directed academic project
- self-pacedControlled by the learner
self-motivation · unstructured · self-assessment · deschooling
special needs
Atypical developmental or learning conditions
- accessibilityEase of approach
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
- individualizedAdapted for one person
adaptive · IEP · assistive technology · universal design · learning differences · neurodiversity · twice-exceptional · remedial · multilingual · ESL
- school choiceschool choice, homeschooling, homeschool, charter schools, private schools
- school departmentsstudent services, athletics department, gifted programs, counseling services, early childhood
- Adult Learninglifelong learning, self-directed learning, vocational training, skill development, online learning
- pedagogyteaching methods, teaching, teaching strategies, teaching models, teaching techniques
- Academic Supporttutoring, summer school, Title I, special ed, learning support
- juvenile justicejuvenile court, juvenile hall, juvenile detention, juvenile courts, youth court
alternative educationtraditional education
Standard classroom-based instruction
public school · state school · public education · traditional schooling · state-funded education
education, educate, educated, alternative, educational, educating, educates, educative, alternatives