Disciplinary Alternative Education Program is where students go when they violate the Texas Education Agency’s Code 37, or any other policy that would require a mandatory placement at an alternative campus.

The academic portion of DAEP is doing things differently with a new program for core class assignments. Instead of making students keep up with the assignments they’re assigned by their regular teachers, they complete assignments in APEX, the school’s credit recovery program. This change was made to help students from falling behind from not always being able to see the assignments in the Canvas program.

“It’s so much easier and less stressful with work at DAEP because we don’t have to do as bad of stuff everyone at school does,” sophomore Louis Petit said. “I still have to do work and learn when I’m in DAEP, so I’m happy they have this program.”

This educational program for DAEP has been around for about three years now for a couple of the classes, but it was just recently expanded for all four core classes. The purpose behind it was to make sure students can still get the same education as others who are not in DAEP.

“This program, APEX, is typically used for other campuses as well, not just ours,” Principal Nate Driver said. “It’s been here for probably over a decade or longer.”

The work students get done isn’t only on this program. Students can choose whether they want to complete work from their regular teachers’ Canvas courses or APEX. This work can also be given on paper printed by the DAEP teachers.

“While kids are over at DAEP, they complete their assignments and then come back here upon completion of how many days they were assigned over there,” Driver said.

Alternative school plays a crucial role in providing educational experiences in an inclusive environment and showing students’ personal growth.

“We really try and give those students the opportunity to prove themself and usually the students come back improved and better than ever,” Driver said. “So, I’m glad we can help them.”