Goals for the Student Services Department

Highlights

• Completed DESE Mid – Cycle Program Review and coinciding corrective action plans

• Completed English Language Learner (ELE) program review

• Completed Special Education Program Evaluation

• Developed Backpack Project designed to provide backpacks and back to school supplies to students in need

• Developed special education reading intervention program guidelines for K-6

• Facilitated a district wide forum with the District Attorney’s Office for school leaders and targeted teaching staff on the new Anti-bullying Legislation

• Held a well-attended district and community safety table top session with the Amherst Police Department, Department of Public Works, Amherst Fire Department, Amherst College Police, University of Massachusetts Policy, and representative from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

• Lead the Achievement Academy summer program

• Lead the development and articulation of the new South East Campus (SEC) program

• Partnered with the Information Systems Office to developdistance learning opportunities for secondary students to support access to rigorous and challenging coursework, through the use of instructional technologies including the use of Virtual High School, Skype and Moodle

• Provided resources and professional development on executive function for professional and secondary paraprofessional staff

• Supported the elementary schools with the implementation of the Achievement Academy during the school year

• Supported the redistricting of the elementary schools

• Worked with a consultant on Response to Intervention on establishing a baseline assessment of the elementary schools

Current Initiatives

• Articulate and strengthen high quality transition services and programming at the secondary level

• Collaborate with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the UMASS Adoption Center with the roll out of the Adopted Children’s Program

• Continue the development and pilot of the “Flip CHART to Safety” to increase school capacity and safety awareness

• Continue with year two (2) work on distance learning (e.g., Virtual High School, Moodle and Skype, etc.) to ensure student access to highly qualified teaching

• Continue partnership with an institution of higher education (University of Massachusetts) focused on transition services and programming for students at South East Campus

• Coordinate and host English Language Learner (ELE) mini-conference with the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN) mid-year

• Develop a district wide clinical mental health consultation team and consultative model

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Anti-Bullying Plan

• Develop and implement corrective action plan to address DESE mid-cycle findings

• Develop and publish attendance “best practices” brochures for families

• Enhance collaboration, communication and partnership with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council

• Enhanced understanding and implementation of Section 504 guidelines and requirements

• Establish school and program wide baselines utilize a school mental health questionnaire in order to appropriately identify and provide supports to reduce barriers to development, efficacy of intervention and learning for students

• In conjunction with RTI leadership team, identify universal screening tool and implement screenings and progress monitoring in the areas of literacy, math, and behavior

• Partner with Center for New Americans on the implementation of the Barbara Bush Grant for early literacy for children birth to five as part of the adult education programming

• Partner with the Amherst Police Department with their mentoring program for students

• Raise collaborative literacy and professional learning communities in order to enhance teaching and learning at South East Campus (SEC)

• Research and develop school wide Positive Behavior Interventional and Supports models

• Research and engage expert consultation in the area of dual needs for the purposes of addressing and reducing over representation of identified sub groups in special education

• Use Special Education Program Evaluation recommendations from Public Consulting Group and Crisis Prevention Institute in order to develop a comprehensive action plan

• Utilize the results of the Hampshire College survey and ELE program review to develop an action plan for improving services and programming