ALE stands for Alternative Learning Experience, a public school enrollment option where students complete some or all of their coursework outside a traditional classroom. ALE programs are most commonly associated with Washington state, where they operate under specific regulations that distinguish them from both conventional schooling and homeschooling. Students in ALE programs remain fully enrolled in public school and work under the supervision of a certificated teacher, even though much of their learning may happen at home or online.
How ALE Programs Work
An ALE program delivers public education partly or entirely outside the regular classroom setting. Each student receives a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP), a document that outlines what the student will learn, how progress will be measured, and how the student will stay in contact with their assigned teacher. The curriculum and instructional materials must meet district standards and remain free from religious content, just like any other public school program.
A certificated teacher supervises, monitors, assesses, and evaluates every student’s work. This isn’t a hands-off arrangement. The program must document weekly two-way contact between the student and their teacher, which can happen face-to-face, by phone, through email, via video conferencing, or through other digital tools. Each contact record must note the date, the method used, and the purpose of the interaction, whether that was instruction, assessment, or a progress review.
Types of ALE Programs
ALE programs generally fall into three models:
- Site-based: Students attend a brick-and-mortar school location for part of their instruction but complete a significant portion of coursework independently or off-site.
- Remote: Students work primarily from home or another location outside a school building, staying connected to their teacher through scheduled check-ins and assignments.
- Online: More than half the content is delivered electronically, and the student accesses more than half of the teaching online. Online programs can overlap with ALE through shared program models and funding structures.
An ALE can operate as a single course, a full school, or a broader program within a district. The funding flows through the school district, meaning the district claims state funding for enrolled ALE students just as it would for students attending classes in person.
How ALE Differs From Homeschooling
ALE and home-based instruction (homeschooling) can look similar from the outside, since both involve students learning at home. Legally and practically, they are very different.
In traditional homeschooling, the parent or guardian develops and supervises the entire educational program. The family files an annual Declaration of Intent with the local school district, but the public school has no obligation to provide instruction, materials, or oversight. Homeschooled students are not enrolled in public school and are not eligible for a public high school diploma unless they independently meet all district and state graduation requirements.
ALE students, by contrast, are enrolled in public school. They are subject to all state and federal rules governing public education, including course requirements, graduation standards, and assessments. A certificated teacher oversees their learning plan, provides or approves instructional materials, and maintains regular contact. Because ALE is a public enrollment option, students can earn a standard high school diploma through the program and access district resources that homeschooled students typically cannot.
Who Uses ALE Programs
ALE programs serve a wide range of students. Families choose them for many reasons: a student may have health issues that make daily school attendance difficult, pursue athletics or performing arts at a level that conflicts with a traditional schedule, thrive with a more self-directed learning pace, or simply prefer the flexibility of working from home while still receiving teacher support and a public school credential.
Some students enroll in ALE for a single course they cannot access at their home school, while others complete their entire education through an ALE program. Districts sometimes use ALE frameworks to serve students who have struggled in conventional classrooms and need a different structure to stay on track toward graduation.
What Students and Families Should Expect
If you enroll in an ALE program, expect a structured experience with real accountability. Your teacher will create a Written Student Learning Plan tailored to your courses and goals. You will need to engage in documented weekly contact with that teacher, and your progress will be regularly assessed. The coursework follows district-approved curriculum, so the academic expectations are comparable to what you would encounter in a traditional classroom.
Because ALE operates under public school rules, students participate in state assessments and must meet graduation requirements just like their peers in conventional schools. The trade-off for that accountability is access to public school resources, a recognized diploma, and teacher guidance throughout the process, all at no cost to the family.