This is not what Oklahoma alternative schools are supposed to be

The Tulsa World has an article today on the district's "boot camp" program. This isn't a state-funded alternative school; it can't be, as it doesn't meet the 17 criteria in state law. We wish that TPS would quit referring to it as an alternative school, as that only confuses the public.

Here's the lead paragraph:

The new alternative school that just lost its principal in a resignation agreement with Tulsa Public Schools has been plagued by overcrowding and physical violence, a current employee and two former students say. They say police are routinely called to the school -- including last week when the school district's director of alternative programs was assaulted by a student.

Tulsans don't have to look very far to find examples of really good, true alternative schools: Street School, Union, Jenks, Owasso....just to name a few right there in Tulsa County.

This isn't the first time we've heard horror stories about Tulsa's boot camp. We hope something is done -- the first priority for this school should be safety.