Few empirical studies describe the interior world of alternative school settings. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 11 alternative school students, discussing factors that contribute to absenteeism as well as the circumstances that led them to enroll in an alternative setting. We find that students’ regular attendance is facilitated by (1) stable housing, (2) a means of transportation to school, (3) feelings of belonging, and (4) flexible supports from staff. Given that two of these pertain to matters beyond the school, we argue for an “expanded accountability,” in which the language of “accountability” is broadened to encompass non-educational policymaking.

很少有实证研究描述替代学校环境的内部世界。我们对 11 名替代学校的学生进行了半结构化的定性访谈，讨论了导致旷课的因素以及导致他们进入替代环境的情况。我们发现 (1) 稳定的住房，(2) 上学的交通工具，(3) 归属感，以及 (4) 工作人员的灵活支持，促进了学生的正常出勤。鉴于其中两个与学校以外的事务有关，我们主张“扩大问责制”，其中“问责制”的语言被扩大到包括非教育政策制定。