The purpose of the AHSI Policy Work Group is to provide a forum for collaborative identification and problem-solving around the policy opportunities and barriers that affect development of high-quality alternatives for high school. Staff of the education program at the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (NLCI) support and facilitate the Policy Work Group.

Since formation of the Work Group in 2006, an ever-growing group of members drawn from the AHSI network and partner organizations have:

• Informed and created the overall AHSI Policy Framework
• Informed development of Federal legislation aimed at increasing support for alternatives for high school
• Supported the development of NLCI’s publication
• Setting the Stage for New High Schools: Municipal Leadership in Supporting High School Alternatives
• Planned and participated in a mini-convening on Performance-Based Education and the California policy environment for alternatives
• Provided extensive briefings on policy and program development at the US Department of Labor
• Multiple Pathways Learning Exchange; and Selected, provided formative support to, and launched three AHSI Place-Based Partnership efforts to build out portfolios of new alternatives for high schools through city-schools collaboration in Indianapolis, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; and Newark, New Jersey.

Policy Work Group initiatives for 2008-2009 include:

• Continue to support development of coordinated portfolios of alternatives in the AHSI Place-Based Partnership sites, and to identify policy “lessons learned” from those sites;
• Advise NLCI on efforts to establish and sustain strategic partnerships with national and regional organizations and government agencies, so as to connect AHSI intermediaries and the AHSI policy perspective The AHSI Policy Perspective with national and local events and policy discussions;
• Advise NLCI as it conducts explorations and seeks to explain the AHSI policy perspective and operations in California; and
• Monitor and inform as possible, developments in state and Federal policy relevant for alternatives for high school.

Important Dates

The Policy Work Group meets quarterly by teleconference, and meets in person at the AHSI Spring and Fall Convenings.

Supporting Documents

• The AHSI Policy Perspective
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• Setting the Stage for New High Schools: Municipal Leadership in Supporting High School Alternatives
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