Caroline County Public School System Programs

Table of Programs Currently Operational In The Caroline County Public School System

Alternative School Program
Before & After School Child Care
Building Self-Esteem In Students Together (B.E.S.T. Program)
Challenge School System Initiative
Chapter I
Computer Assisted Instruction
Design for Success
Early Identification and Intervention Program (E.I.I.P.)
Health Services
High Schools That Work
Honors Programs
Instructional Television
Job Training Partnership Act (J.T.P.A.)
Maryland School Performance and Assessment Program (M.S.P.A.P.)
Maryland's Tomorrow
Psychological Services
Saturday School
School Based Instructional Decision Making
Special Education
Summer School
Technology Preparation (Tech. Prep.)
Teen Pregnancy and Prevention
Testing
Transitional/Bilingual Program for Limited English Proficient and Non-English Proficient Students (E.S.O.L.)

Explanation of School System Programs

Alternative School Program

This is a program aimed at reducing the incidence and thus the adverse effects of student disruption in the regular classroom by providing chronically disruptive youth with their own specially constructed educational environment. This program is located at the Caroline Career And Technology Center.

Before & After School Child Care

This program is designed to help working parents and at the same time instruct children in basic skills and provide them with safe child care both before and after school.

Building Self-Esteem In Students Together (B.E.S.T. Program)

The intent of the B.E.S.T. Program is to provide a team of persons in each school in the county who are trained in both invitational learning philosophies and crisis management/intervention. Training in invitational learning stresses the principles developed by William Perkey and by those who expound the virtues of the T.E.S.A. Program (Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement) with the hope that we can develop a core of people in each school who not only understand the importance of self-esteem in student achievement, but who are also trained to implement some of those types of activities. Training in crisis management is provided by several sources, one of which is the Maryland Student Assistance Program through the Maryland State Department of Education.

Challenge School System Initiative

The Challenge School System Initiative is a partnership agreement between the Maryland State Department of Education and the Caroline County Public School System. This agreement is intended to facilitate school system improvement. The Maryland State Departmant of Education will provide grant monies and addtional resources over the next three years to assist our school system in meeting Maryland School Performance and Assessment Program goals and objectives as well as school system improvement plans.

Chapter I

Chapter I is a federally funded program designed to assist children in kindergarten and 1st grade. All elementary schools in the Caroline County school district are eligible for the services provided by this federally funded program. Chapter I provides the services of two reading teachers, a computer specialist, instructional assistants assigned to teachers, as well ass materials for instruction and inservice training for teachers and instructional assistants. Parent participation and involvement are vital components of this program. As stated in PL 100-297 - Stafford-Hawkins Amendments of 1988, parents are encouraged to be involved in this program.

Computer Assisted Instruction

All Caroline County elementary schools have networked computer labs with individualized instruction in mathematics and reading provided by the CCC Management System. Students receive reinforcement and enrichment activities in the lab in 20 minute sessions five days per week. Each middle school has a networked lab, with individualized instruction provided by the CCC management system. Emphasis is on the development of math and reading skills, but provides for learning in other curricular areas. The two county high schools have Macintosh instructional labs. The instructional emphasis is computer applications (word processing, data base, and spread sheet), desktop publishing, and using word processing to improve writing skills. Media Centers are equipped with Macintosh computers, CD-ROM, and an electronic encyclopedia.

Design for Success

Design for Success is a process for instructional planning and decision making. This "model" is specific to Caroline County, however, the process is in line with the very latest research on school system and school improvement. Design for Success encourages school faculties to be involved in school-based instructional decision making as well as in the development of each school's School Improvement Plan. This model ultimately calls for improvements in curriculum and assessment as well as initiatives for more community and parent/student involvement.

Early Identification and Intervention Program (E.I.I.P.)

Section 7.201 of the Public School Laws of Maryland legislated that "each student entering the first year in any primary grade in any public school be evaluated for the purpose of identifying learning disabilities, regardless of etiology." This mandate compelled the school systems of Maryland under the direction of the Maryland State Department of Education to screen each child entering school to detect possible learning problems. The law also precipitated the development of instructional programs to meet the needs of these identified children. Such programs would provide appropriate instruction in order to prevent these children from being placed in adverse situations, being labeled as handicapped, or becoming disciplinary problems. The goal of the Early Identification and Intervention Program (EIIP) is to screen for potential "high-risk" learners. "High risk learners are those children who, because of problems of development and/or experience, exhibit behaviors associated with learning problems regardless of etiology and are, therefore, least able to meet the expectations of the school unless their teaching/learning experiences are modified." Through specific diagnosis and evaluation, the suspicion of a learning problem is confirmed or denied. The sooner "high-risk" children are recognized, the greater are the chances that academic failure can be lessened and the child's problems ameliorated.

Health Services

All students entering school for the first time are requested to have a physical examination. Physical examination reports indicating a need for follow-up will be reviewed with the parents by a member of the Caroline County Health Department school nurse team. The Health Department will schedule physical examinations for students whose parents request an appointment for that purpose. The Health Department will conduct visual and hearing screening of all students in kindergarten and grades one, five, seven, and nine. Teachers may refer to the principal any child in any grade suspected of having visual or hearing impairment. Scoliosis screening will be conducted for students in grade six. Students who are identified will possibly need further checking and will be referred to the school nurse for follow-up. The school principal will also notify parents of children who are having problems.

High Schools That Work

In 1987 the Southern Regional Education Board started a project to design and change the future of students in the general and vocational programs of study. Out of this project eventually came the High Schools That Work (HSTW) Program. HSTW has identified ten key practices which will more modernize and raise standards for students nation-wide in Caroline County. The HSTW program is part of the school improvement process at Col. Richardson and North Caroline High Schools as well as the Caroline County Career and Technology Center.

Honors Programs

Honors courses of study in English and social studies are included in the system's instructional program.

Selection guidelines are used to counsel students who may elect to participate.

Instructional Television

In today's complex world, teachers are faced with increasing demands that their students learn more so that they will be prepared to compete in the Information Age. Instructional television provides teachers with the opportunity to have students experience learning across time and space.

Job Training Partnership Act (J.T.P.A.)

The Job Training Partnership Act provides federal funds for students to receive extra services. The in-school program provides appropriate assistance to students who are economically disadvantaged or qualify for special education placement. This remediation is meant to help the students master the skills needed to pass the Maryland Functional Tests. In the summer these same services are provided as part of the Summer Youth Employment & Training Program. In addition to the remediation, students are placed in paid work experiences with supervision by adult staff members.

Maryland School Performance and Assessment Program (M.S.P.A.P.)

M.S.P.A.P. is a unified effort that uses a systematic outcome-based approach to ensure that each student attends a school in which he or she is succeeding. M.S.P.A.P. has ten component parts:

A set of data-based areas that are considered most useful to inform and guide the school's instructional results for each student.
A computerized management informational system that collects ongoing results in each data-based area about each student's achievement.
Greater achievement by each student, emphasizing the thoughtful application of information, processes, and skills.
A set of state and local standards so staffs can analyze the results and make decisions about the school's instructional performance for each student.
Annual performance reports that identify for each school, school system, and the State progress on the data-based areas.
An operational decision-making process that uses the performance report information and restructures the school's or school system's operations, as needed, to ensure that each student progresses toward the standard of excellence.
State and local school systems that provide support to assist staffs to strengthen the school's performance.
Parents who are involved in assisting students to plan, determine, and monitor appropriate program choices and course selections, and in establishing expected outcomes to be achieved by them.
A community that supports the school in its efforts to increase each student's achievement.
An accreditation standard that is earned based upon the school's performance.

The goal of M.S.P.A.P. is to have each student graduate from Maryland's public schools with increased information, processes and skills.

Maryland's Tomorrow

Maryland's Tomorrow is a statewide dropout prevention program. State government officials, private industry, and educators are working together to provide additional experiences and services for the youth selected. It is a year-round program begun in the summer prior to the student's entering high school and extending one year beyond graduation. There are five components to the program with special activities developed to address each of these five areas:

Basic skills remediation services
Motivation, life skills and leadership development services
Work experience services
Student support services
Transition services

Psychological Services

The Caroline County school system employs three school psychologists to provide psychological services to county students. The objectives of the services are:

To help school personnel improve instructional programs.
To serve as a resource for school personnel by providing information relative to recent developments in the areas of developmental and educational psychology.
To work with school personnel, parents and others concerning ways of dealing with problems of individual students.
To work with students with regard to their personal concerns or problems, including consultation with their teachers and parents.
To diagnose student learning difficulties through administration of intellectual, performance and developmental tests.
To help staff provide an educational treatment based on the results of diagnostic testing and professional judgment.

Saturday School

Saturday School is a disruptive youth intervention program aimed at providing students in grades 6-12 who have violated the less serious provisions of the Code of Student Conduct with some concentrated guidance and counseling activities. Students who are assigned to Saturday School spend three hours (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.) with a teacher and a counselor. The teacher "walks" the student through the completion of a student behavior change agreement, and the counselor conducts an appropriate counselling lesson.

School Based Instructional Decision Making

School based instructional decision making (SBIDM) is a process whereby faculty and other "stake holders" (parents, students, etc.) are directly involved in making key decisions at the school level. Essentially SBIDM is a bottom up (rather than a top down) approach to school improvement and planning.

Special Education

Caroline County Public Schools has established a comprehensive Special Education Program to ensure that all students with disabilities, birth through the age of 20, residing in the jurisdiction of Caroline County, whose disabling conditions adversely affect their educational performance receive special education and related services in compliance with all federal and state regulations governing the educational programming of students with disabilities. The goals of the Special Education Program in Caroline County are to:

Ensure that all students with disabilities have available to them a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) which includes special education and related services to meet their unique needs.
Provide a full range of educational opportunities based upon individual interests and needs, to be offered in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
Ensure that the rights of students with disabilities and their parents are protected.
Provide effective and appropriate educational programs for all students with disabilities.

In order to achieve these goals, the following objectives will be implemented by the Caroline County Public Schools:

To provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities from birth through age 20, residing in the CCPS jurisdiction. This includes students attending private schools or living in state-operated programs.
To provide a continuous "child find" procedure designed to identify students from birth through age 20 who have a disability and are in need of special education and related services.
To provide an effective screeing program to identify students who may be in need of special education and related services.
To develop and implement an individualized education program (IEP) based upon assessed needs for each student who is identified as having a disability and who is in need of special education and related services.
To provide special education and related services in the least restrictive environment (LRE).
To work cooperatively and communicate effectively with the parents or guardians of students who are identified as needing special education and related services, in order to ensure that parents participate as equal partners in the special education decision making process.
To ensure that the laws and regulations concerning the confidentiality of information and procedural safeguards are strictly observed.
To provide for the successful transition of students with disabilities from school into the adult world.
To provide on-going staff developement to enhance the instructional skills of special and general educators.

The Supervisor of Instruction for Special Education, in cooperation with the Director of Instruction will annually evaluate the successful implementation of the Special Education Program's philosophy, goals and objectives to ensure that program standards are congruent with the philosophy, goals and objectives for all Caroline County students.

Summer School

Each sumer the Caroline County Public Schools provides numerous summer school opportunities for students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Programs include remedial assistance and extention of skills in a less restrictive atmosphere. Typically classes are held during the month of July in the morning.

Technology Preparation (Tech. Prep.)

Tech Prep is a challenging course of study designed to assure that high school students acquire more technically-oriented knowledge and skills. Tech Prep is a coordinated sequence of academic and career and technology courses, beginning in the ninth grade, which will prepare students for life-long learning including advance study at community colleges and technical institutions. The Caroline County Tech Prep program will offer students a specific career prescription in one of three areas:

Engineering/Mechanical Technologies
Health/Human Services Technologies
Business/Management Technologies

Each of these Tech Prep areas will be articulated with existing offerings at Chesapeake College, Delaware Tech, and other community colleges. Students will be encouraged to pursue post secondary studies. The vision of Tech Prep is exciting, challenging and fulfills the mission of education in the state of Maryland - all students will be prepared for post-secondary education, the world of work or both.

Teen Pregnancy and Prevention

Each year the Interdepartmental Teen Pregnancy Prevention Committee sponsors systemwide activities aimed at ameliorating the teen pregnancy problem. The committee, composed of representatives from the Board of Education, the Health Department, Juvenile Services, Social Services, and Employment and Training, have conducted classes on the subject, held a Health Fair, sponsored staff development, and conducted informational seminars.

Testing

Caroline County conducts a wide range of achievement, aptitude and interest testing. Achievement - The Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills - Fourth Edition is administered to all students in grades 3, 5 and 8. Criterion Reference Testing (CRT'S) are given in grades 3, 5 and 8. These test are performance based and designed to assess achievement towards the Maryland Learning outcomes. Reading, writing, language usage, mathematics, science and social studies are the areas tested. The Maryland Functional Testing Program includes diagnostic tests in reading, math, citizenship and writing for graduation certification. Official administration of the functional math and reading tests occurs in 7th grade. The functional writing test is given in 8th grade and the citizenship test is administered in 9th grade. Passing these test is a graduation requirement. Each test must be readministered until the student successfully passes it. The Psychological Services Program includes the administration of appropriate tests to referred students.

Transitional/Bilingual Program for Limited English Proficient and Non-English Proficient Students (E.S.O.L.)

The Dorchester and Caroline County public school systems have established a collaborative transitional/bilingual program that accomplishes the following goals: (1) develop diagnostic and prescriptive procedures, (2) provide intensive English language development services to non-English and limited English speaking students using their native language as a medium of instruction to the extent necessary to enable students to gain competence in the English language and to progress through schools to meet the graduation standards, (3) develop a component to involve non-English speaking and limited English speaking parents in the educational program of their children, (4) develop a staff training and inservice program, and (5) develop a resource materials center which will be located at North Dorchester Middle School. ESOL resource specialists (2) and tutors provide services to students in grades K-12. Guidelines for special education have been developed/implemented, and an ESOL English course of study has been piloted; but additional procedures (such as grading) and on going curriculum modifications continue to be developed.