In education, the phrase alternative school usually refers to a school based on a non-traditional, new, or non-standard educational philosophy. A wide range of philosophies and teaching methods are offered by alternative schools; some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientations, while others are more ad-hoc assemblies of teachers and students dissatisfied with some aspect of mainstream education. In many instances the alternative schools tend to be smaller than regular schools and teachers and students are closer to each other i.e. calling teachers by their first names. They also usually work together as a community unlike a regular school. Ideally, alternative schools are aimed to gifted students but they may accept students that may not be served well by traditional public schools in their communities (such as pregnant teens or teen parents, drop-outs, and other at-risk populations) or those with special educational needs.