Alternative Governance

What is the Alternative Governance (AG)?

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is charged under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) with the responsibility of reviewing and facilitating State Board approval of the alternative governances selected by schools in year four of improvement restructuring planning (RP).  NCLB requires these schools to select an alternative governance structure after having completed a comprehensive analysis of the total school’s teaching and learning environment.  

MSDE is tasked with the responsibility of developing and providing training on state guidelines and rubrics for the selection of the alternative governance structure and school improvement plan in which the selected option is embedded.  These state guidelines outline how information on the selection of an alternative governance option is to be presented to the State Board of Education. 

Helpful Information

Powerpoint for parents

Alternative Governance Parent Fact Sheet 

Spanish Alternative Governance Fact Sheet_ES 

2008 AG for School Improvement Guidelines FINAL

Elementary-Middle School Improvement Intervention Profile