An alternative schools "explosion" is currently producing a large number of diverse educational choices for parents and students. Alternative schools, or those schools that offer all students a distinctive choice of educational programs, can be classified by philosophy, curriculum, or governance. This report defines, explains, and classifies free schools, open schools, basic schools, magnet schools, schools without walls, minischools, and schools within a school. Combining information from educational literature with material from personal interviews, it describes functioning examples of each type of school. One chapter focuses on districts offering a large spectrum of alternatives and suggests reasons for the successes and failures of these programs. A concluding chapter offers a selection of helpful ideas gleaned from the literature and from interviews on successful implementation of an alternative school program. The conclusion is that alternative school programs hold promise for those who believe that different students learn best in different ways. (Author/JM)