Schools  ◊  Jobs  ◊  Parents  ◊  FAQs  ◊  Forms  ◊  Newcomers  ◊  Lunch Menus

Counseling and Student Services (CASS)

New

Mission

Counseling and Student Services will promote student success by supporting the development of the whole child and collaborating with the school, family and community.

Vision

Students will maximize their potential by becoming responsible, productive and emotionally healthy citizens.

Overview

Counseling and Student Services encompasses the program areas of school counseling, school psychology, school social work, Student Support Team coordination, and Section 504 coordination and compliance. Some of the services that each area provides are:

School Counselors

School counselors provide a comprehensive school counseling program that improves student achievement and enhances the academic, career and personal/social development of all students. The comprehensive school counseling program is delivered through classroom lessons, individual student planning sessions, and individual and group counseling.  School counselors collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators and other school staff to promote student success.  School counselors also provide leadership and advocacy to promote equity and access to opportunities and rigorous educational experiences for all students.

School Psychologists

Each school has approximately one-third of a psychologist position allotted to it. Psychologists provide diagnostic assessments for students suspected of having a disability; the evaluations address the academic and behavioral-emotional functioning of students. They also collaborate closely with Student Support Teams, other school staff and parents on interventions targeting academic, behavioral, and social-emotional problems. In the aftermath of crises, psychologists take the lead in providing crisis intervention services at the schools affected. They also provide preventive services by consulting with teachers to develop strategies to assist students at risk for learning and behavior problems.

School Social Workers

Social workers are shared across multiple schools. They serve as liaisons between schools and families, serve on Student Support Teams, and work with other Student Support staff to provide intervention services. Social workers also play an important role with students who have attendance problems by helping parents be more accountable for their children's' school attendance.

Student Support Team (SST) Coordination

Staff in Counseling and Student Services provide coordination of the school system's SST model. Each school has an SST composed of school staff and students' parents who meet to gather resources and develop strategies to help children succeed in the regular education classroom.

Section 504 Coordination and Compliance

The responsibilities for system-wide implementation of the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act lie within Counseling and Student Services. Students who have disabilities that substantially limit their functioning at school and who are not in need of special education services are served through Section 504 plans. These plans address accommodations that are deemed necessary for the student to access his/her educational program.

Consideration for Section 504 eligibility entails a specific, detailed, and timely process that school professionals must follow. Each school in WCPSS has a 504 Contact who can assist with parent questions. Consideration for Section 504 eligibility entails a specific, detailed, and timely process that school professionals must follow. Each school in WCPSS has a 504 Contact who can assist with parent questions. The school system's Section 504/ADA Coordinator may be reached at 919-858-1653.