Building pathways from intensive behavioral support toward successful classroom integration and greater independence.
The CORE Methods Alternative Education Program provides a flexible, individualized approach for students who need additional behavioral, emotional, social, or educational support to participate successfully in school.
Developed by Dr. Bethany Bilodeau, the program works collaboratively with students, educators, families, and school districts to strengthen skills, create supportive learning environments, and develop a clear path toward successful classroom reintegration.
Rather than treating alternative placement as a permanent destination, CORE Methods focuses on helping students build the skills and supports necessary to transition toward less intensive educational settings whenever appropriate.
Building a Path from Tier 3 to Tier 1 Supports
Students receiving intensive behavioral support often need more than a change in placement to achieve lasting success. They need individualized strategies, consistent relationships, opportunities to develop new skills, and environments that support safety and regulation.
CORE Methods works alongside school teams to identify the factors influencing a student’s behavior, establish meaningful goals, and develop an individualized plan for progress.
The program emphasizes a gradual, supported transition from intensive Tier 3 interventions toward Tier 1 classroom supports, with ongoing attention to the student’s readiness, needs, and educational environment.
This approach is designed to strengthen student independence while helping schools build the capacity to provide effective, sustainable support.
A Supportive Alternative Learning Environment
The Alternative Education Program recognizes that students may need a different learning environment while developing the skills necessary for successful integration.
Depending on individual needs and the school’s available resources, program supports may include:
Small-Group Learning
Opportunities for individualized attention, structured instruction, and learning experiences adapted to student needs.
Social & Emotional Development
Support for emotional awareness, self-regulation, communication, relationship-building, and positive social interactions.
Shared Staff Support
A collaborative approach that helps educators and support personnel work consistently toward common student goals.
Therapeutic & Regulation Supports
Strategies that consider sensory, emotional, behavioral, and environmental needs to promote safety, participation, and readiness for learning.
Planning for Reintegration
Ongoing opportunities to strengthen the skills and supports necessary for successful participation in less restrictive classroom environments.
The goal is to create a supportive pathway toward integration, not simply an alternative location for instruction.
What’s Included in the Program
CORE Methods partners with schools and districts to provide coordinated support for both students and the educational teams working with them.
Direct Student Support
Individualized behavioral support focused on strengthening regulation, participation, communication, and successful classroom integration.
Staff Training & Coaching
Practical guidance and professional development to help educators understand student needs and implement sustainable support strategies.
Classroom Environment & Procedures
Recommendations for creating educational environments that promote safety, consistency, connection, and learning.
Parent & Administrator Collaboration
Participation in meetings and ongoing communication to strengthen coordination among families, educators, and school leadership.
Data Collection & Progress Monitoring
Tracking relevant information to evaluate student progress, identify changing needs, and guide adjustments to intervention strategies.
Together, these services are designed to support immediate student needs while strengthening the school’s long-term capacity to provide individualized behavioral support.
Measurable Results, Meaningful Integration
95%
Decrease in aggressive and noncompliant behaviors
85%
Reduction in aggressive and self-injurious behaviors
90%
Increase in verbal and vocabulary skills
83%
Participants successfully reintegrated into Tier 1 supports
Together, these results reflect CORE Methods’ emphasis on strengthening student skills, improving behavioral outcomes, and creating sustainable pathways toward classroom integration.
Benefits for Schools & Districts
The Alternative Education Program is designed to benefit students while helping schools develop more effective and sustainable systems of support
Reduced Reliance on Out-of-District Placements
By strengthening a school’s ability to support students with intensive needs, the program may help districts reduce dependence on costly external placements.
Greater Educational Continuity
Supporting students within their school communities can help preserve important relationships, routines, and opportunities for meaningful participation.
Stronger Staff Capacity
Training, coaching, and collaboration help educators develop practical skills they can continue using as students progress.
Individualized, Sustainable Solutions
Rather than relying on a single intervention or predetermined model, CORE Methods helps districts develop strategies responsive to their students, staff and educational environments.
Potential Long-Term Cost Savings
Reducing reliance on out-of-district placements may allow districts to redirect resources toward sustainable in-school supports while maintaining a focus on student outcomes.
Program Investment
CORE Methods works collaboratively with school districts to establish the planning, coordination, and direct student support necessary for successful program implementation.
Program Planning & Coordination
Includes staff training, environmental setup, parent and administrator meetings, data tracking, and reintegration preparation.
On-Site Behaviorist Support
Includes direct student support and initial program setup within the educational environment.
Travel expenses may apply.
Program arrangements and associated costs can be discussed directly with CORE Methods based on the district’s needs and the scope of services.
Contact CORE Methods to Discuss Program Options →
What Schools Are Saying
Working hand in hand with Dr. B and her CORE team exponentially changed the way I performed my job and in turn helped me change the lives of children I work with.
-Angela Carter, Paraprofessional
Dr. B and CORE Methods are working at the forefront of student and staff wellness in a time when we need it most!
-Scott Laliberte, Director of Innovative Projects at UNH
About the Program’s Creator
The CORE Methods Alternative Education Program was developed by Dr. Bethany Bilodeau, an educational and behavioral support professional with extensive experience helping students, families, and schools navigate complex behavioral challenges.
Her approach emphasizes individualized understanding, meaningful relationships, sustainable educational practices, and measurable progress toward greater independence.
Explore the Alternative Education Program
Every school district faces unique challenges, and effective alternative education requires solutions tailored to the students and communities being served.
CORE Methods works collaboratively with educational teams to explore individualized program options that strengthen student support, build staff capacity, and create pathways toward successful classroom integration.
