Fred Gann, founder of four alternative education programs, believes that all true alternative education programs exist for one fundamental purpose: to make a positive difference in a student's life. In Groundwork, Gann delivers a roadmap to re-engage disenfranchised students through an effective alternative education program. This step-by-step guide demystifies the principles of alternative education and outlines how to create a program in which each student assumes personal responsibility for his or her learning and experiences a framework for developing success. With personal examples and anecdotes, Gann provides a clear, accessible plan for the implementation of alternative programs in support of a district's traditional school setting. Groundwork examines the following: - The four questions that must be asked when founding a new program - The components of a true alternative educational program - Five techniques for implementation - Positive-based disciplinary practices - Program longevity and the art of survival In Groundwork, Gann presents a blunt and uncompromising demand for educators to invest in kids and calls for public education to provide programs which reconnect at-risk youth with their educational environments.