Effective Practices In Educational
Advocacy: Navigating the School
Culture
Jill Patnode, Director
Puget Sound Educational Service District
One-fifth of all 16-24 year-olds in south King
County
are disconnected from school and work
20,000 Opportunity Youth
The majority are poor youth of color.
There are many sub-groups, with varying assets & needs:
English
Language
Learners
Homeless
Foster
Youth
CourtInvolved
Teen
Parents
Undocumented
a partner of the King County System
Integration Initiative
The PathNet Initiative
WHAT:
The PathNet Initiative is a regional and state model of service
delivery that reengages juvenile justice involved out-of-school
youth through best practices in systems integration and
interagency collaboration.
HOW:
Access and connection to a seamless network of services that
support and advance education and employment goals.
King County Systems Integration Initiative
(KC-SII): Uniting for Youth
 Group of state and local youth-serving agencies
 Improve the coordination and integration of services for
youth involved in multiple systems
Uniting for Youth Partners
 Juvenile Court (King County Superior Court)
 Children’s Administration, Region 4, DCFS
 King County Department of Community & Human Services
(Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, Public Defense)
 Puget Sound Educational Service District
 Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
 Casey Family Programs (Seattle Field Office)
 Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Region 4
 Attorney General’s Office, Seattle Social and Health Services
Division
 King County Office of Management and Budget
Opportunity Youth Action Plan
The focus is building a robust, coordinated,
diverse system of re-engagement pathways
designed to help youth and young adults
reconnect to education and progress towards a
college or career credential and living-wage
work.
Cornerstones of PathNet
 A current strength-based assessment
 A student-driven plan
 Connectivity to the right
educational/vocational program for that
student
 Care Manager
Uniting for Youth: Purpose and Goals
Improve outcomes for children, youth and families
by:
 Promoting increased cooperation and coordination among
staff from different systems
 Achieving and institutionalizing greater multi-system
coordination and integration at the policy level
Networking question #1
Care Manager:
-Why do you “care” about this
population?
-What are the characteristics of an
effective “care manager” that is able
to provide individualized supports to
opportunity youth?
Networking question #2
Strength based assessments:
Describe how you “flip” deficit
assessments into a strength-based
approach and/or share any strength
based assessments you use.
Networking question #3
Student Driven Plan:
-Describe the plan/assessment your
agency uses?
-Is it formal or informal?
-What are the plan components?
-Process for monitoring and
evaluation of plan?
Education
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION (OSPI)
Olympia, Washington
ESD 101
Spokane
ESD 105
Yakima
ESD 123
Pasco
59
Districts
23
Districts
ESD 112
Vancouver
North Central ESD
171, Wenatchee
25
Districts
29
Districts
30
Districts
ESD 113
Olympia
Northwest ESD
189, Anacortes
35
Districts
Olympic ESD
114, Bremerton
Puget Sound ESD
121, Renton
45
Districts
35
Districts
15
Districts
Right to a Free and Public Education
 All students have this right
 Birth Certificate and Immunization
 Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status NOT needed
Ready to Learn
Schools invest a great deal of time and money in
 Curricula delivery
 Staff development
 Policies and procedures
 Testing
 Special Education
 Tiered interventions
Everything they do is designed to support a 100%
graduation rate. They are limited by time and
resources.
Graduation Requirements
 20-24 Credits: District Specific until 2016
 High School and Beyond Plan
 Culminating Project
 State Exams
 Reading and Writing High School Proficiency (MSPE & HSPE)
 Math EOC (End of Course)
Multi-Tiered Systems of
Support (MTSS)
Suicide
Trauma at School
Substance Abuse
Drop Out
Failing Academic Expectations
Highest Risk Students
Fighting –Threats
Anti-Social Behavior
Experimenting with Alcohol/ Drugs
Depression – Isolation
Absenteeism
Minimal Interest in School
Homework not completed
Falling Behind on Benchmarks
Some Students At-Risk
Respect for Self
Respect For Others
Respect for Property
Engaged in School
In School
Reading
Engaged in Learning
Consistent Academic Progress
High Expectations – All Students
Learning Support
Academic
School Based Intervention
Resources

Title IX McKinney Vento

Becca Truancy Court

School Counselors: ASCA Model

Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Response Planning

School Nurse/Health Services

Substance Abuse/Mental Health

Health Curricula

Family and Community Engagement

Before/after school Programs

Social Workers, Family Liaisons

Parent Engagement

Extra Curricular: Scheduled Play!

Community Resources
Coordinating Student Assistance:
Working Together to Help Students Learn
School Policy
Integration with
other school based
programs
Staff
Development
Family/Community
Collaboration
Program
Awareness
Internal
Referral
Process
Program
Evaluation
Student Assistance Team
Learning their language…
Educational Behaviors
Educational Outcomes

attendance/truancy
unsafe behavior
behavioral problems
disciplinary action
Suspensions/expulsions
parental involvement

"lost days of learning"
seat time
Disengaged students
Tiered intervention
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grades
standardized tests
skill development
grade promotion/retention
graduation rates
higher education
Adequate yearly progress
Higher order thinking
How Do I Advocate For My Client?
(inside the school district)
Professional closest to the student (teacher, therapist, etc.)
Principal (CEO of the school house)
Special Education Coordinator or Director
Executive Director or Assistant Superintendent
Superintendent
How do I advocate for my client?
(outside the school district)
Puget Sound Educational Service District
Parent Support Groups
Office of the Education Ombuds
Advocacy Groups (ex. League of Education Voters)
Legal Services (ex. Team Child; Colombia Legal
Services)
Points of Access
Discipline
Academics
Behavioral
Vice
Principal
Counselors
School Security
Specialists
Principal
King County
Resource Guide
Information Sharing
Information Sharing
 FERPA
 Education Records
 Directory Information
 Personal Observations
Rhythms of a School Year
UCLA Mental Health in Schools
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/
 August: Prevent burnout by planning ahead
 September: Getting a good start (transitions; welcomes;
open houses)
 October: Enabling School Adjustment (early identification;
classroom strategies)
 November: Responding to referrals (interventions; end of
quarter; conferences)
 December: Re-engaging students (burn-out; opportunities
for improvement; anticipation)
 January: A time for renewal and new starts (end of
semester report cards; interventions; self efficacy; )
 February: Mid-point
 March: Reducing stress and burnout (compassion fatigue;
budgets; planning for next school year professional
development; end of quarter; next year registration)
 April: Spring is a high risk time (proms; spring fever; spring
break; prevention activities; conferences*; release of
Healthy Youth Survey)
 May: Planning for new transitions (statewide testing*)
 June: Summer and the living ain’t easy
 July: Reports and Planning (principals and admin are in
schools finalizing details of upcoming school year
Resources
 Student Assistance Prevention Intervention Manual
 Educational Advocate Program Manual (PSESD & Team
Child)
 Educating Youth in Adult Jails
 FACEBOOK: Educational Advocate Program
Eligibility:
•
•
•
•
Less than 21 but at least 16 by September 1
Have NOT graduated from HS AND
Be significantly behind in credits OR
Be recommended for enrollment by
professionals from DSHS, JJ, District
approved personnel or staff from agencies
who provide educational advocacy services.
The 4th Cornerstone
Connectivity to the right
educational /vocational program
In 2 minutes or less share about your agency
(consider sharing target audience, location,
mission, resources, how to refer, orientation
dates)