In the U.S. Alternative Schools are generally where the public school system sends kids that do poorly in normal schools. Typical reasons for being sent to an Alternative School include habitual truancy, failing classes, criminal acts, drugs, alcohol, violence, etc.
Alternative Schools are typically day schools, not boarding schools. So the kids go home every afternoon, but they're not truly voluntary. Of course, all states have compulsory school attendance laws so none of them are truly voluntary.
Wayne MacDonald, the principal of Urban Pioneer Experiential Academy, had actually run this school under the auspices of an alternative school
affiliated with or under the umbrella of one of the more conventional high schools in the area for quite some time prior to branching out on his own.
His program generated controversy during that time period as well. At least one incident occurred which also involved leaving students unattended with no adult supervision present, also during experiential exercises involving Outward Bound like activities. Thankfully no one died or was hurt at
that time, but he was called on the carpet, so to speak, and should have known better this time around.
I have a feeling he merely ignored the admonishments or expressed concern, and simply continued to do as he saw fit. It ended up costing him his school, and two kids their lives.