The Spring Grove Area School District is considering starting an in-house alternative education program for students who are expelled.

Currently, students expelled from school participate in an alternative education program at the River Rock Academy in Spring Grove.

An in-house program could save money and expand services to students, said Karyn Brown, district director of support services, in explaining the proposal to the school board last week.

She said past efforts to have an in-house program failed because of a lack of partnership with outside organizations.

After visiting other schools with alternative education programs and reviewing options for about a year, Brown said she believes Spring Grove is ready to move forward at the start of the next school year.

The proposed program would feature a partnership with River Rock, including a behavioral expert who would come to Spring Grove to provide that aspect of the program.

In 2011, 25 students were placed out of the school in alternative education programs.

Brown said most students spend about 90 days in the program with an annual cost approaching $400,000.

Brown said she would like to see the amount of time spent in the program shortened.

Brown said the students would start the day and end the day later than the other high school students and would not participate in other classes or regular lunch periods.

The board is scheduled to vote on the program at its Monday, April 16, meeting.