The Career and Alternative Education Department provides a wide range of quality programs and exemplary services to our districts in the areas of Career Education, Career Technical Education Programs, Alternative Education Programs, Charter School Options and Outdoor Education. Specific program areas include:
- Jack L. Boyd Outdoor School at Green Meadows
A week-long residential outdoor science and environmental education program for 5th and 6th grade students from schools throughout Central California. The Green Meadows facility is at the edge of Yosemite Park and also serves as a conference and retreat center.
- Merced Scholars Charter School (MSCS)
A home-school educational program providing middle and high school students a non-classroom based, personalized learning model of education.
- Regional Occupational Program (ROP)
A variety of career-technical training courses in demand occupations offered to high school and adult students. ROP also takes responsibility for the operation of Career Centers at each high school campus.
- Valley Community and Court Schools
A comprehensive education program serving at-risk K-12 students who learn best in a nontraditional path of education. School locations include Merced, Atwater, Livingston, Los Banos and the Merced County Juvenile Hall.
- Workplace Learning Academy (WLA)
An alternative career-technical education program offered to students attending Valley Community School focusing on the pathways of Building Trades and Construction, Automotive Transportation and Landscaping Gardening.
- EMPOWER and YOP
Two comprehensive programs for youth. YOP serves in-school youth ages 14-18 to ensure high school completion. EMPOWER serves out-of-school youth ages 17-21 with an emphasis on preparation for employment.