Rule 160-4-8-.01 - Student Support Services(1) Definitions. (a) Alternative Education Program (AEP) - an educational program that serves students who are eligible to remain in the regular classroom but are more likely to succeed in a nontraditional setting such as that provided in an alternative education program, as well as students who are excluded from the regular classroom because of disciplinary reasons.(b) Counseling - a process where some students receive assistance from professionals who assist them to overcome emotional and social problems or concerns which may interfere with learning.(c) Guidance - a process of regular assistance that all students receive from parents, teachers, school counselors, and others to assist them in making appropriate educational and career choices.(d) School Climate Management - systematic plan for addressing the factors that affect school climate including a consistent management style and leadership by the principal, a code of expected behavior, a code of disciplinary responses, a code of ethics for educators, a Student Support Team, delivery of counseling and psychological mental health services, methods to reduce absences and increase attendance, physical health support services, efforts to enlist parent and community support, utilization of volunteers, support by and for the parent teacher organization, a preventive safety plan and a crisis response plan, staff development, and the maintenance program for the school's physical plant.(e) School Counseling and Guidance Services - guidance program planning, implementation and evaluation; individual and group counseling; classroom and small-group guidance; career and educational development; parent and teacher consultation; and referral.(f) School Health Services - a process to address medically related health and safety issues and address requests by parents and physicians that the school provide appropriate health procedures to allow students to remain in school and increase opportunities for academic success.(g) School Psychological Services - psychoeducational evaluation; crisis intervention; case study; consultation to student support teams, parents, teachers, and administrators; behavioral observations and analysis; and psychological counseling.(h) School Social Work/Visiting Teacher Services - technical assistance on school climate issues; assessment and intervention, including written social histories; individual, group, and family counseling; and networking of appropriate home, school, and community services to address identified student problems.(i) Student Support Services (SSS) - integrated and collaborative programs of school counseling and guidance services, school climate management and student discipline, school health services, school psychology services, alternative education programs, and school social work/visiting teacher services, provided individually or through a team approach, to all students at all grade levels.(2) Requirements. (a) Each local school system shall develop a Student Services Plan that prescribes and identifies programs and services that incorporate school climate improvement and management processes.(b) Each Student Services Plan must minimally include guidelines for the systematic provision of the following components: 1. Alternative education programs;2. School psychological services;3. School climate management;4. School counseling and guidance services;5. School health services;6. School social work/visiting teacher services.(c) The local board of education (LBOE) shall provide for a School Climate Management Process to include improved student behavior and discipline in accordance with state and federal laws and State Board of Education rules regarding the Improved Student Learning Environment and Discipline Act of 1999.(d) The LBOE shall provide for School Guidance and Counseling Services in accordance with state and federal laws, State Board of Education rules, and department guidelines.(e) The LBOE shall provide School Social Work/Visiting Teacher Services by promoting home, school, and community cooperation to address the needs of the at-risk student population characterized by poverty, high absenteeism, academic failure, pregnancy, disruptive behavior or other student dysfunctions.(f) The LBOE shall provide for School Psychological Services sufficient to satisfy federal and state regulations and additional legal obligations incurred through court agreement.(g) The LBOE shall provide an Alternative Education Program in accordance with state and federal laws, State Board of Education rules, and department guidelines.(h) The LBOE shall provide for a School Health Nurse Program and must establish policies and procedures regarding a School Health Nurse Program in accordance with state and federal laws.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-4-8-.01
O.C.G.A. Secs. 19-7-5, 20-2-140, 20-2-150, 20-2-151, 20-2-154.1, 20-2-155, 20-2-180, 20-2-182, 20-2-184, 20-2-185, 20-2-186, 20-2-187, 20-2-200, 20-2-201, 20-2-202, 20-2-203, 20-2-240, 20-2-300, 20-2-690, 20-2-693, 20-2-695, 20-2-696, 20-2-735, 20-2-740, 20-2-741, 20-2-771.2.
Original Rule entitled "Student Support Services" adopted. F. Sept. 27, 1990; eff. Oct. 17, 1990.Amended: F. Jan. 22, 1993; eff. Feb. 11, 1993.Amended: F. May 16, 1996; eff. June 5, 1996.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 14, 2000; eff. Sept. 3, 2000.