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Alternative School Students Speak Below is a sample of comments made by nominated students in The Iowa Alternative Schools Project. Despite the difficulties these students face, their comments demonstrate that they have found their place in an alternative school setting. "I love coming to school. I look forward to my classes. My teachers here have been awesome. I get individual attention with the small class sizes." – A 17 year old alternative school student "I like the schedule, and times of class. The teachers are helpful. The attitude is more laid-back." – An 18 year old alternative school student "I like that at Echo I’m more independent and can get more one on one teaching." – A 17 year old alternative school student "I can actually sit down and talk to my teachers on the same level. I mean, I can talk to them easier than my family. They aren’t teachers, they’re friends." – An 18 year old alternative school student "The teachers seem to care more about their students here." – A 17 year old alternative school student "I feel more welcome here by the students. I don’t feel like I’m an outcast here. I also understand the work we do here a lot more than I did at my other school." – A 15 year old alternative school student "I like that everyone knows you by first name basis." – An 18 year old alternative school student "At this school the teachers are a lot more involved. At my other school they don’t really care if you pass or fail." – A 17 year old alternative school student "This school understands your situation better. It also feels like there’s a lot of individual attention here because the population of students isn’t as high." – An 18 year old alternative school student "This school is more like a family. Everyone usually gets along. And we learn a lot of different things that a normal school would not teach. There is more room for growth and maturing." – A 17 year old alternative school student "Expo saved my education – this place can work miracles." – A 16 year old alternative school student "[At] Scavo the teachers really care and you can work at your own pace." – A 17 year old alternative school student Teacher Responses to Project-Related Activities A large component of The Iowa Alternative Schools Project is to provide development opportunities that encourage staff members at the alternative schools to learn more about gifted and talented education. The quotes listed below are from alternative school teachers who have participated in various project-related professional development activities. "While they are a small minority, the above average students we have often are not challenged in the classroom. Our staff is not equipped to challenge them adequately, so the creation of IOAPA has really come to our rescue." – Johanna Scent, Kanesville HS, Council Bluffs, referring to her school’s participation in the Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) "The summer workshop was outstanding!" – Kathy Stevens, Central Alternative HS, Dubuque, referring to the Summer Institute 2005 "Encouraging and supporting diverse learners by individualizing and differentiating instruction enables giftedness to develop because it increases the chance the whole crop of learners will be more willing to take on challenges, take risks, and work hard while learning." – Margaret Hurst, Echo Alternative HS, Tiffin, attended both the Summer Institute and Differentiated Instruction Workshop 2005 "There is compelling research that indicates that gifted students drop out, or underachieve when their educational needs are not met in regular educational settings. Many of these gifted students complete their education in alternative settings. It is important to meet the gifted students’ needs in that alternative setting." – Cindy Winckler, Kimberly Center, Davenport, attended the Summer Institute 2005 "I wish the Belin-Blank Center continued progress and support in their research about talented and gifted students in the alternative high school setting and to continue further workshops on this topic to educators and administrators. Awareness is the beginning to achieve a positive gain." – Maria Araeipour, Central Alternative HS, Dubuque, attended the Summer Institute 2005 "That was time well spent." – Bill Sherwood, Kimberly Center, Davenport, referring to the Differentiated Instruction Workshop 2005 "Thank you for helping me to understand the gifted learner. Thank you for essential discussions on how we can attain the ideal of a high quality education." – Shirley Deppe, Central Alternative HS, Dubuque, attended the Summer Institute 2005