It starts with a write-up, then a scolding from the assistant principal. Perhaps a few days of in-school suspension.

But more serious infractions of the rules – drug use, fights, theft and more – can send a student into that gray area between traditional punishment and outright expulsion from school.

In that gray area exists the Alternative Education Center.

Everyone makes bad choices from time to time. Some, however, can land you in the district’s Alternative Education Center.

There are a number of things that a student can do that detention and ISS are not adequate punishment for. If they get in multiple fights, steal, bring drugs or alcohol to school, be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at school, or even have an excessive amount of write-ups, they will without a doubt get sent to the Alternative Education Placement — also know as AEP. Some of the offenses have a set sentence, but for some it is up to the AP to decide.

The first thing students need to understand is that AEP works a lot differently than the normal high school campus. By breaking some serious rules, students have given up a lot of privileges they had before. One of the most obvious differences is the strict dress code.

Everyday AEP students must wear a solid white shirt, tucked into blue jeans with no holes, khakis, or black slacks, with a solid color belt. Neither girls nor boys can wear any jewelry, and girls can have only one hair tie. Students are permitted to bring a sweatshirt, but it must be a solid color with no pockets or hood.

AEP students start out their days a lot differently than normal high school students. Whether they ride the charter bus that picks them up from the buses at the high school, drive, or get a ride to school, before they step inside they must go through a process that is something like airport security.

Students are not allowed to bring anything to school with them except for a lunch, their keys (no key chains) and some cash—as long as it is less than five dollars. So when they walk in, all of the staff is waiting at a table right in front of the door.

The students are instructed to turn their pockets inside out and do a quick three-sixty turn. If they are in dress code and have no restricted items with them, they are free to go to class.

Depending on if the student is there long term or short term; their curriculum might change as well. For instance, if a student was enrolled in advanced classes before being sent to AEP, those courses must be dropped.

The reason for this is there are no AP teachers on campus, so regular level work is the only thing they can give out. If students were in special classes like yearbook or Ag, it changes to a class that is available there, such as P.E. or intro to business.

However, if there is ever a thing that students enjoy about being sent to AEP, it is the way the classes work.

Instead of having seven different teachers for each different class, students have two to three and go to each for several periods.

Since there are so few teachers, classes consist of students from every grade level. Teachers give each student a folder, which has one or two worksheets for each class — sometimes it is daily work and other times it is a test.

Regardless of the type of work, students are allowed to use their text books to help them complete it. Usually, the work comes straight out of the book.

There is never any homework and students never receive projects to do outside of school. Most students see a recognizable increase in their grades.

Another major difference is students at AEP actually look forward to P.E. everyday. While in class, there is no talking unless given permission and no getting out of desks.

Even during lunch all students sit at a table by themselves facing the front wall — no lunchtime chatting. P.E. is the one time of day that students are allowed to move around and talk freely. Also, many students enjoy the light-hearted sarcasm of Coach Hamilton.

Many first-time students at AEP walk in with butterflies in their stomachs. What ever their preconceived ideas may have been, students and parents have nothing to fear.

The district promises all children to be in a safe environment, no matter how many rules they have broken. In fact, because of the strict rules and precautions there, students may actually be safer.

If a student is sent there, they should not expect to see gang fights break out or crazy kids setting the classrooms on fire.

AEP kids are no different than the kids back in the regular classes, they have just gotten a little off track. The staff there does its best to help them find their way back.