CHAPTER 5 | |
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Educators have attempted to meet the challenge of teaching the nation's increasingly diverse student population through reforms and initiatives. These changes focused on improving teaching techniques, educational settings, and curriculum without emphasizing services. Indeed, there have been few efforts to provide the coordinated, comprehensive student services that are essential to students' success in school and, ultimately, in life. | |
| The Office of Student Services preposes a student services model drawn from research on career development, special education, programs for at-risk students, and the development of the field of student services in higher education. | An examination of literature indicates that student services is a recognized
field or profession at the four year college/university level. While secondary
schools offer many services, a clear, coordinated student services model has
not emerged. Secondary school educators can learn from the success of student
services professionals in colleges and universities in responding to students'
needs prior to, during, and at the completion of their high school education.
The literature reveals that student services at the high school level are often
linked to discussions on the types of leadership secondary administrators
provide in making support activities and programs available to students. The
literature review yielded a remarkable absence of comprehensive student
services systems at the secondary level. In addition, references on student
services often center on models for delivering services to students enrolled in
special education, services for students considered to be at risk, or models
for career development and guidance and counseling services. The background
information on career development research, special education programs, and
programs for at-risk students, as well as the development of the field of
student services in higher education, serve as the foundation for the student
services model proposed by the NCRVE's Office of Student Services. The NCRVE's Office of Student Services defines student services as those services provided by an educational institution to facilitate learning and the smooth transition of students from school to work, the military, and/or further education. The OSS model consists of basic services and various types of assistance that students need during different stages of their school life (i.e., pre-enrollment, enrollment, post-enrollment). The basic services include counseling services, child-care assistance, transportation services, special accommodations, safety and security services, medical and nursing services, food services, social services, and psychological services. Schools should provide the following essential services to students: recruitment and outreach, student assessment, orientation, and career awareness and exploration prior to school attendance; student assessment, academic advising, career awareness and exploration, career planning, tutoring, mentoring, and job placement/referral while in school; and job placement, job referral, and follow-up/evaluation upon completion of a secondary program. Finally, an SST, composed of professionals who specialize in providing counseling, consulting, assessment, and other related services to ensure the emotional, educational, social, intellectual, and healthy development of students, is essential to assist all high school students in learning and developing to their fullest potential. A description of the roles and responsibilities of the SST that were adapted from the Tennessee Department of Education is presented. The advisement system used by the Springdale High School in Arkansas is a viable strategy in coordinating student services. To assist all high school students to successfully transition from school to the workplace and/or further education, there is a need to build a more responsive, proactive, and comprehensive student services system. This document is intended to help student services personnel, administrators, and teachers at the secondary level improve their programs. |