Student Support Services
Program Update 2011-2012
April 2, 2012
Sean Halpin, Director of Student Support Services
Information
Handouts
– Counseling Staff
– Secondary School Counseling Calendars
– High School Profiles
– Post-Secondary Data
– AP Data
– College Jumpstart Brochure
– Home Education Plan Policy
– Physician’s Statement for Tutoring
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Student Support Services
Introduction
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All school counseling services are aligned with American
School Counselor Association (ASCA) and Massachusetts
Association of School Counselors (MASCA)
Mission Statement :
“The mission of the Plymouth Public School’s Guidance Department is to provide a comprehensive developmental
counseling program, addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students. Without
regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, handicap or national origin, we encourage all students to develop
realistic concepts of themselves, along with an understanding of the educational and career opportunities available to
them. Counselors collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents and community resources and agencies to
provide the support necessary to ensure that all students maximize their academic achievement and potential.
Moreover, we assist school administration in providing a safe and respectful environment that encourages a diverse
student body to become life-long, independent, critical thinkers and productive citizens in a changing society."
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Group and Individual Counseling: 3 Domains
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Academic/Technical Development
Personal/Social Development
Career Development
Student Support Services
Staffing
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Guidance Counselors (17)
Adjustment Counselors (4)
School Psychologists (15)
Elementary: School Psychologist in each building
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IBES/SES: 1.5 each
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NMES: 1.5
Middle Schools
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Guidance PCIS (4) & PSMS (3) Guidance Counselors by House/Floor and School
Psychologists (2.6)
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Adjustment Counselor (PCIS)
High Schools
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Guidance Counselors PNHS (4), PSMS (6), School Psychologists (2.4), Adjustment
Counselors (2)
Guidance Caseloads average 300 students
Student Support Services
Counseling Program Highlights
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Classroom Guidance
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Individual Annual Review Meetings
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Grades 5/6 Transition to Middle School
Grade 7 Mass CIS Jr. Career Inventory
Grade 8 Career-Cruising
Grade 9 Transition to High School/4-YearPlan/Career-Cruising
Grade 10 Career-Cruising
Grade 11 Career-Cruising (Resume)/Post HS Planning
Grade 12 Post High School Planning
Grades 8-11 Student Scheduling
Meetings to address specific developmental needs of individual students
Followed by a “summary” letter home
Guidance Parent Night Programs
Student Support Services
Professional Development
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Creating a College-Going Culture (College
Board Data)
Anti-Bullying Training
Adolescent Substance Use/Abuse
Stress/Anxiety in Children
Community Resources
Educational Options
Student Support Services
Grants
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Academic Support Grant: High School
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Class of 2011 – 99% of our students met the MCAS graduation requirement in ELA,
Math and Science
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MCAS tutoring continues for students in Math and ELA this school year
Connecting Activities Grant
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Jobs and career-readiness skills for 11th and 12th grade students
Smaller Learning Communities (SLC Grant): completing year 4 of 5
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Smaller Learning Communities/ Personalization of the high school experience
 To increase student achievement for all while closing existing achievement gaps.
 To prepare all students for success in post-secondary education and
employment.
 To provide all students with a rigorous, relevant program of studies.
 To create a school climate that provides a personalized learning environment for
every student, built on a foundation of student, staff, family, business and
community partnerships.
Investment in Innovation Grant (i3): The New England NETWORK - Year 2 of 5
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Personalizing secondary schools through creating inquiry-based units or courses that
include personalized performance assessments that are measured by common
rubrics.
Student Support Services
Attendance Supervisor
2011 -12 Goals
1) Increase attendance at Child Study Team
meetings throughout district
2) Increase elementary level intervention
3) Improve referral form use and detail from
schools
4) Improve parent conference intervention rates
5) Implement use & measure success of student
morning texting intervention
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Student Support Services
504 Plans
Section 504 (Civil Rights Law – Rehabilitation Act 1973)
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2.76 % (225 students)
Aspen
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Mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major
life activities
Education comparable to that provided to all students (NOT specifically
designed instruction=IEP)
Reasonable physical and instructional accommodations
Recent legislation (2009) definition of disability is “broader”
Electronic Resource Manual
504 Plans
Student Support Services
McKinney-Vento
Definition: the homeless student’s primary nighttime residence – the basis for identifying a
student as homeless – at the time of the initial identification by the school district.
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Shelters
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Doubled-up (sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship)
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Unaccompanied youth – A youth not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian
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Unsheltered (cars, parks, campgrounds, abandoned buildings, and
substandard/inadequate housing)
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Hotels/motels, or
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Children/youth awaiting foster care (e.g. DSS emergency, temporary, transitional
placement)
2011-12
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49 total/23 current students
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Cuts across schools and grade levels
*Transportation costs: FY11 $155,000 FY 12 projected $130,000
**State Auditor determined it is an unfunded mandate ($11.3 million in Massachusetts)
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Student Support Services
English Language Learners (ELL)
English Language Education (ELE)
 Maria da Silva, Coordinator (PNHS, PCIS)
– Pat Devno (CSES, HES, WES, flex)
– Kim Simonsen (NMES, FFES, SES, flex)
 LEP (51)/FLEP (40)
 Brazil, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Nicaragua,
China, Vietnam, Cape Verde, Nepal
 Category 1 & 2 Training for Teachers
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Student Support Services
Home Education Plans
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Requirements per School Committee Policy
1.0 Competency of teacher(s)
2.0 A listing of the subjects to be taught.
3.0 A time schedule
4.0 A calendar
5.0 A listing of textbooks/materials/goals
6.0 Evaluation/Assessment
7.0 The child(ren) will remain in public school attendance during review period.
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85 plans for 2011-12
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K-5 (42)
6-8 (23)
9-12 (20)
Annual process: spring mailing to remind parents
Student Support Services
General Ed Tutoring
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Physician’s Statement for
Home/Hospital Placement
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Increased tutoring pool from 5 to 25
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Tutoring Handbook 2012-13
Student Support Services
Challenges
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Tiered Intervention Model of Student Support
CAPs (Curriculum Accommodation Plans)
Academic rigor at every grade level across
curricula
Consistency across schools and levels
Aspen gradebook usage
Student Support Services
New & Exciting
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Chamber of Commerce College Jumpstart Program
– Vet Assistant, Pharm Tech, EMT, Food Preparation
On-site College Interviews
– UMass Dartmouth (50), Cape Cod CC (100)
2012-13 College Admission Reps at PNHS and PSHS
PSAT all 10th and 11th graders: AP Potential
Aspen Student Information System
– Student Portal, 504 Plans, Special Education
Virtual (on-line) program expansion
NASSP Conference, SLC Thematic Conference
Thank you: Maureen Metta
Student Support Services
Questions/Comments
Thank you!
Please visit our web-pages at
www.plymouth.k12.ma.us
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Student Support Services