The mission of the Chester Upland Alternative Education Program is “to provide a high-quality educational program in a learning environment that provides emotional, social, and intellectual support to challenged learners in a supportive atmosphere where instruction is designed to enhance the quality of life for students who are at high-risk for potential exclusion from mainstream traditional educational programs.”

The Accelerated Learning Academy has instituted a program that will allow alternative school students to achieve required skills at the fastest rate that they are able to do so. It has four (4) components, which differentiate it from conventional instructional approaches and allow customization for each learner:

• Real World Learning (RWL) Activities - the use of methodologies that allow learners to "investigate rich and challenging issues and topics, often in the context of real world problems" *  characterizes Real World Learning. This instructional approach lets learners develop rigor, relevance, and respect, as recommended by Wagner and Keegan (2006).
  
• Customized Comprehensive Online Curriculum - because students enrolling in the Alternate Education Program have so many different needs, an online program that delivers courses that may be executed anytime and anywhere is a necessary part of ALA's well-rounded offering. Assessments are used to appropriately place the student in the courses.
  
• Rapid acquisition of essential literacy skills by:

Intensive Direct Instruction in Reading - the most important skill that the learner requires for success in school is reading at or above grade level. Reaching this goal will be a major component of the learner's Prescriptive Education Plan.

Intensive Direct Instruction in Mathematics - the next most important skill for success in school is mathematics, and direct instruction in mathematics is required for students to reach this goal as well.

• Data Driven Prescriptive Education Plans and Progress Management. The customized learning plan is based on intensive assessment of the students literacy and numeracy skills and abilities and interests with adjustments made using daily student achievement data and communication between the Teacher Advisor and student.

In addition to these major divisions, the Academy at the High School level also provides High Stakes Test preparation for the PSSA and for the SAT as well as Entry-Level Job Skills Training in Microsoft Applications and in Keyboarding Skills Development.

 * Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, "Twenty-first Century Curriculum and Instruction," 14 October 2007.