Guidance & Remediation Services

1. Guidance & Remediation Services Program Update 2010-2011 April 4, 2011 Sean Halpin, Director of Guidance & Remediation Services

2. Information • Handouts • Counseling Staff • Secondary Schools Counseling Calendars • High School Profiles • Post-Secondary Data • HS Retention Data

3. Introduction • 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." • Group and Individual Counseling: 3 Domains • Academic/Technical Development • Personal/Social Development • Career Development

4. Staffing • Guidance Counselors (17) • Adjustment Counselors (4) • School Psychologists (15) • Elementary: School Psychologist in each building • IBES/SES: 1.5 each • NMES: 1.5 • Middle Schools • Guidance PCIS (4) & PSMS (3) Guidance Counselors by House/Floor and School Psychologists (2.6) • Adjustment Counselor (PCIS) • High Schools • Guidance Counselors PNHS (4), PSMS (6), School Psychologists (2.4), Adjustment Counselors (2) • Guidance Caseloads average 300 students

5. Counseling Program Highlights • Classroom Guidance • 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-Year Plan • Grade 10 Career-Cruising • Grade 11 Career-Cruising (Resume)/Post HS Planning • Grade 12 Post High School Planning • Grades 8-11 Student Scheduling • Individual Annual Review Meetings • Meetings to address specific developmental needs of individual students • Followed by a “summary” letter home • Guidance Parent Night Programs

6. Remediation & Other • Academic Support Grant: High School • Class of 2011 – 99% of our students met the MCAS graduation requirement in ELA, Math and Science • MCAS tutoring continues for students in Math and ELA this school year • PROJECT SAIL: applied for summer grant • Smaller Learning Communities (SLC Grant): completing year 3 of 5 • 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 1 of 5 • Personalizing secondary schools through creating inquiry-based units or courses that include personalized performance assessments that are measured by common rubrics.

7. Challenges/Goals • Dual Enrollment • College readiness for all (National Student Clearinghouse persistence data) • Academic rigor across the district • PSAT • Master Schedule • Child Study Teams • Keep our students in school: AHS and other general education alternatives (HS retention data)

8. Questions/Comments Please visit our guidance web-pages at www.plymouthschools.com