School-Based Efforts: A Plan to Support At-Risk Youth

Cite the website for the school district you evaluated.

I decided to do the Cumberland County School System in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The website is: http://ccs.k12.nc.us/

Describe at least one school- or district-level program, model, or approach showcased regarding parental involvement, truancy, reengagement supports or strategies, or youth development.

A program that I came across in this school system is called the Academically and Intellectually Gifted Program. This program is for students that are gifted academically and intellectually and may require more advanced teachings than the ordinary. These students have the ability to learn faster. This program provides an educational environment that is designed to provide tools for social and emotional needs. This program works with the school system to provide differentiated instruction.

Discuss how the school district’s special education mission statement either supports or differs from what was observed from the state’s special education mission.

The school district’s special education mission statement supports the state’s special education mission because they both strive to ready students to be able to function in society physically, socially, and emotionally. Both also utilize Individualized education programs or IEPs.

Cumberland County Schools Mission:

“The mission of special education in Cumberland County Schools is to provide high quality educational services to students with disabilities by implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEP), utilizing research and standards-based interventions, instruction, and assessments in the least restrictive environment with the goal of preparing students to become productive, responsible members of their community,” (CCS, 2015).

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Mission:

“The mission of the Exceptional Children Division is to ensure that students with disabilities develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized education program in the least restrictive environment,” (NCDPI, 2015).

Share an example of a program or policy from the district or a particular school that supports what was stated in the state’s website and explain how the program or policy aligns with that of the state’s positions or policies.

The Cumberland County School System has a program called Choice Programs. Choice programs is for parents to have a choice which school their child will attend. For example: A child may have a special interest in science. Most of the schools in Cumberland County have a special focus. For instance: Pine Forest High School is the school of Art. They will use art as a center for teaching different subjects.

Describe your impressions of the types and levels of supports offered in the school district, sharing something that impressed or surprised you as well as anything you found to be lacking from the supports offered.

I believed that since I have been out of school, a lot has changed. The support is greater than it was in the past. This is not surprising because I believe the teachers are just now getting the tools they need to help steer the students closer to success. I had an understanding while I was in school that the teachers were only able to do so much with what they had. But now since technology is playing a big part in learning, it seems as though there are more avenues that they are able to explore.

References:

CCS. (2015). Exceptional Children’s Services. Retrieved October 22, 2015 from

                http://ec.ccs.k12.nc.us/

NCDPI. (2015). Exceptional Children. Retrieved October 22, 2015 from

                http://ec.ncpublicschools.gov/