For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) “Alternative education program” or “program.” Any applicant’s program applying for funds under this article, which program is implemented by a school district, an area career and technical school, a group of school districts or an intermediate unit, which removes disruptive students from regular school programs in order to provide those students with a sound educational course of study and counseling designed to modify disruptive behavior and return the students to a regular school curriculum. Notwithstanding section 1502, alternative education programs may operate outside the normal school day of the applicant district, including Saturdays. School districts and private alternative education institutions operating pursuant to the provisions of Article XIX-E shall adopt a policy for periodic review of those students placed in their respective alternative education program for disruptive students. This review shall occur, at a minimum, at the end of every semester the student is in the program or more frequently at the district’s or private alternative education institution’s discretion. The purpose of this review is to determine whether or not the student is ready to return to the regular school curriculum. Programs may include services for students returning from placements or who are on probation resulting from being adjudicated delinquent in a proceeding under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) or who have been judged to have committed a crime under an adult criminal proceeding.

(a) No student returning from placement as a result of being adjudicated delinquent under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile matters) or who has been adjudged to have committed a crime under an adult criminal proceeding shall be returned directly to the regular classroom. (b) Prior to returning such student to the regular classroom, the school district shall: (1) Place the student in a transition center operated by the school district for a period not to exceed four (4) weeks. (2) Develop a transition plan for the student that includes academic goals, identifies school and community services appropriate to the needs of the student and establishes terms and conditions the student must meet prior to returning to the regular classroom. (c) The transition plan developed under subsection (b)(2) may provide for the student’s direct return to a regular classroom where the underlying offense did not involve any of the following: (i) Possession of a weapon. (ii) Possession, use or sale of controlled substances as defined in the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64), known as “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.” (iii) Possession, use or sale of alcohol or tobacco by any person on school property. (iv) An act of violence as defined in section 1310-A(h) (d) In the case of a student whose transition plan does not include immediate return to the regular classroom, the student shall be placed in one of the following as provided for in the student’s transition plan: (1) An alternative education program as defined in Article XIX-C (2) A private alternative education institution as defined in Article XIX-E (3) A general education development program. (4) A program operating after the traditional school day.