Alternative schools are essentially specialized educational environments that place a great deal of emphasis on small classrooms, high teacher-to-student ratios, individualized instruction, noncompetitive performance assessments, and less structured classrooms (Raywid 1983). The purpose of these schools is to provide academic instruction to students expelled or suspended for disruptive behavior or weapons possession, or who are unable to succeed in the mainstream school environment (Ingersoll and Leboeuf 1997).While there is a great degree of variation among alternative schools, research demonstrates that the schools that succeed with this population of youth typically have Curriculum-based on real-life learning (Coffee and Pestridge 2001) Bartlett Educational Center in Erlanger/Elsmere School District is a Alternative school. This is the second year that 4-H is partnering with the School Counselor to provide Real Life Learning through Cooking Classes. 4-H Cooking program mets three to four times a month and teaches the youth with basic cooking skills gradually working toward more complicated cooking skills. Due to Cov-19 closing our schools early I was not able to finish our program in person.  But though out the year I had many conversations with the youth.  Several of the youth started cooking meals at home for their families. On of my students graduated early and asked if she could return to school just for my classes.

All of the students were able to follow a recipe, measure and create breakfast, lunch and dinner.