I would not recommend him switching to a program for behavioral problems. That's more than a black mark against him. Those programs are used for students with severe behavioral issues, and that's not the case here. He would officially be considered special needs and impacted negatively if he ever wanted to go to college.

He needs an advocate who will put the school and school board on notice that the mother isn't going to accept that it's the victim's fault when they did nothing to protect him. They don't usually want that publicity. I hope with a good meeting things can improve, but putting the boy in a alternative program would be nearly as bad if not worse than suspension or expulsion. If you think regular program kids can be bullies, you have no idea how bad teens in that program can be if they find a "soft target", which is what her son would be.