The Auberle Education Center (AEC) is a licensed, private alternative school that provides individualized educational instruction and therapeutic services to students at risk, as well as support to students' families. The AEC services boys and girls, ages 11-18, referred by local school districts. The AEC is located at: 120 East 9th Ave Homestead, PA 15120-1602 Phone: (412) 326-0023

Background
All school districts have a certain number of students whose special behavioral and emotional needs interfere with success in the community classroom setting. Many of these students consistently demonstrate antisocial behavior, physical aggression and a general unmanageability in the classroom. They often present not only problems in the classroom, but also at home and in the community. School districts have traditionally attempted to deal with this problem through detention, suspensions, homebound instruction and ultimately expulsion. These efforts have met with very little success either for the individual or the school district. It is clear that these students need a comprehensive relearning program that will instill the social and behavioral skills necessary to meet success in the community school and help them become productive citizens in the future.

Philosophy
Auberle recognizes that education is one of the life domains vital to the comprehensive development of those we serve. We believe that education is a process that must be designed to address both the needs and strengths of the individual in order to advance a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of all individuals, communities and cultures. Auberle believes that education is a pathway to the future in that it provides for the development of the intellect, life and reasoning skills, career and vocational training and for the actualization of the potential of the student.

Goals/Objectives

Goals:
• To instill a positive sense of self-worth
• To develop sound work habits
• To become self-motivated
• To demonstrate accepted social values
• To demonstrate a competency for problem solving
• To demonstrate a caring attitude for others
• To return a student to his/her regular classroom setting in as short a period of time as possible

Objectives:
• To develop a plan to meet the educational needs of students who require remediation or who require additional credits or competencies for age-appropriate grade level placement
• To deliver high quality individual and small group instruction as part of the above-mentioned objective
• To assist in the development of life and vocational skills of our students
• To work with the individual, family and home community to provide instruction that best meets the needs and develops the strengths of the student
• To assist in providing for the socialization of students in placement so that they may successfully return to their home school districts
• To return the student to the least restrictive, appropriate educational environment as soon as possible

Parent Involvement
Parents will be encouraged to be as active in their child's education as possible. Weekly telephone contact between the parent and counselor will be a regular routine. These calls will provide the parent with information on homework assignments, student progress, problem areas, etc. At the same time the parents will provide the counselor with feedback on the student's behavior during non-school hours. The integration of a child's home and school life will provide the continuity and consistency necessary to maximize therapeutic efforts. Parents, students, teacher and behavior specialist will also meet periodically to review progress and plan goals.