Alternative learning environments in Quebec: Might they offer strategies adapted to the learning pathways of students in vulnerable situations within adult general education?
This article examines the role of alternative learning environments (ALEs) in the learning pathways of young adults in Quebec. ALEs are institutions that welcome and educate students ages 16 and above who have interrupted their regular education pathways and are in a vulnerable situation. Our reflection is based on case studies in three ALEs, namely a street school, a private school and an organization that helps students go back to school. It is based on the strategies implemented by ALE professionals. The article highlights how certain proximal support practices accommodate students’ non-linear pathways, distinguishing them from those of traditional institutions such as adult education centres.