Safety Nets for Struggling Students
Here are some issues to consider in evaluating the safety nets that your school provides to identify and support students who are having trouble.
Almost all students at some point during their years in school go through difficult academic, social or emotional periods that interfere with learning. Educators sometimes end up playing the role of emotional or physical support provider, alongside their role as teachers.
Schools vary in their inclination and ability to provide support that students need.
Here are some questions to help you assess your school's efforts to help students in need.
- How does the school identify children who are in need of additional support? What proactive efforts does the school make in cases where children are failing academically?
- Is tutoring or additional help available for students? Are they encouraged to take advantage of that assistance? Is tutoring provided by volunteers, teachers or students?
- At the high school level, does the school have a program designed to prevent students from dropping out? Is the program successful?
- Does the school provide resources for students who have been identified as learning disabled? Is a staff member trained to diagnose learning disabilities? School districts are required to supply these services, but individual schools may not always offer them.
- Is there a health clinic on campus?
- Is the size of the counseling staff adequate to meet the needs of the student body? When school funding was cut in the early 1990s, counseling services were often eliminated. Many schools will tell you that their counseling resources are inadequate.
- Are students aware of the resources available to them, and are they encouraged to use them?
