Incorrigible high school students in the Monroe City School System will no longer attend the Sherrouse Alternative School. Instead, they will study from home under the supervision of their parents, who will serve as Learning Coaches.
The new policy, approved by Superintendent Rev. Sam Moore, III, and implemented under the direction of Dr. Brian Bush, director of Child Welfare and Attendance, removes high school students from alternative school campuses altogether. Elementary school students, however, will continue to attend the Sherrouse Alternative campus in person.
“This home alternative is only for high school students,” Dr. Bush explained. “We believe this system gives them a chance to succeed while keeping them connected to our district.”
Program Details
Students placed in the new program remain enrolled in Monroe City Schools and are provided district-issued Chromebooks. They follow their same schedule of classes through “Edgenuity”, an online platform aligned with Louisiana state standards, Dr. Bush said.
Dr. Bush said parents, designated as learning coaches, sign contracts to ensure students log in daily, complete assignments, and maintain contact with the school.
Each student is also paired with a mentor—a classroom teacher who monitors progress daily and provides support. Mentors may recommend additional resources such as sessions with district social workers. Students can also arrange in-person assistance with mentors if necessary.
Weekly teacher visits are planned to track progress, though students in the program will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities such as athletics, band, or clubs.
Addressing Concerns
Critics have questioned whether the new arrangement amounts to a hybrid public/homeschool model that removes students from traditional classrooms while allowing the district to continue collecting state Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) funds by including them in the district’s enrollment count.
They also raised concerns that students placed in this setting would not be counted in academic assessments of their home schools and would have little incentive to return to the regular classroom after becoming comfortable with a mostly unsupervised school day.
Dr. Bush rejected that criticism, emphasizing that students remain full Monroe City School students. He added that some participants in last year’s virtual program scored proficient or higher in their coursework, and many used the system to recover lost credits.
“All students with identified IEPs will continue to attend Sherrouse in person,” Bush clarified.
“For others, this model provides a structured way to catch up academically while working their way back into a traditional school setting,” he said.
Looking Ahead
While Dr. Bush did not provide a specific number of students expected to enter the program this fall, he said the district made the shift due to capacity issues at Sherrouse, as well as concerns about housing older students alongside younger grades, and trends in neighboring school systems.
Some junior high students who were scheduled for Sherrouse for infractions such as fighting, drugs, or weapons last year are being allowed to begin high school in a regular classroom this year, Dr. Bush said.
Meanwhile, certain students in the home-based program may gain employment opportunities through a pending partnership with Workforce Development.
“This is not about abandoning students,” Bush said. “It’s about giving them every opportunity to succeed, while also addressing the realities of space, safety, and modern education trends.”
I read with interest your recent article on this educational arrangement. I am very curious to see how well it will work in practice and would appreciate continued coverage as it develops. Please keep your readers informed about the progress and any outcomes that arise.
Thank you for your reporting