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Module 9: School Site Best Practices

School clinician high fiving young student

Best practices are key to ensuring smooth operations when SchooLink providers are on school campuses across different districts. Collaboration between providers and school staff is essential, and understanding each district’s specific requirements helps ensure compliance and access to students receiving services. Clear and frequent communication support a successful partnership.

Best Practices for Providers on School Sites

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  • Follow the Unique School and District Policies

    Understand and comply with each district's requirements for access, credentials, background checks, and documentation.

    • Use the annual meeting as an opportunity to ask about the requirements for coming onto campus. (See Annual School Meeting, Module 3)
    • Bring a photo ID
    • Make contact with school staff before engaging students or parents/caregivers
    • Make contact with school staff again, prior to leaving the school campus
  • Be Visible and Professional

    Wear identification, follow dress codes, and conduct yourself professionally to foster trust with school communities.

  • Respect School Schedules and Environment

    Coordinate sessions to minimize disruption to academic time and be mindful of school policies and routines.

Key School System Terminology

LEA (Local Educational Agency): a local entity that is involved in education, such as a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

IEP (Individualized Education Program): a plan that outlines the educational needs of a child with a disability.

504 Plan: a document that outlines how a school will support students with disabilities so they can participate in the general education curriculum.

SST: Student Study Team or Student Success Team, a group of educators, often including parents, that meet to develop a plan to support a student experiencing academic or behavioral challenges within the general education classroom to intervene early with strategies to help them succeed.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

Graphic showing the three tiers of MTSS

MTSS is an educational framework that provides academic and behavioral support to students by offering tiered levels of intervention based on individual needs:

  • Tier 1 provides core instruction for all students
  • Tier 2 provides targeted interventions for some students showing difficulties
  • Tier 3 offers intensive support for few students requiring significant additional help

Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports (PBIS)

Graphic showing the five categories of classroom PBIS

PBIS is a framework for supporting schoolwide practices to promote a safe school setting that supports the social, learning, behavioral, and emotional needs of all students. It includes five categories that research has linked to positive student outcomes:

  1. Maximize structure in the classroom with predictable routines and a safe, orderly environment
  2. Teach, monitor, and reinforce expectations and rules that are aligned to the school-wide expectations
  3. Actively engage students by providing contextually relevant instruction that includes high rates of opportunities to respond
  4. Use a continuum of contextually relevant strategies to acknowledge appropriate behavior
  5. Use a continuum of contextually relevant strategies to respond to inappropriate behavior

Source: Florida Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Project

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Graphic showing the five core competencies of Social and Emotional Learning. The five compentencies are supported by outer layers for classrooms, schools, families, and communities.

SEL is the process through which young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that help us to understand ourselves, connect with others, achieve goals and support our communities.

The five Core Competencies include:

  1. Self awareness
  2. Self management
  3. Social awareness
  4. Relationship skills
  5. Decision making

Best Practices for School Site Personnel

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Did you know?

School districts are governed by a school board, led by a superintendent and supported by San Diego County Office of Education. The schools operate under the umbrella of the district and led by a principal. Schools follow policies set by the district but may also have additional and unique practices for each particular school community – get to know the school community and culture.  School administrators shift which makes the Annual Meeting a critical part of partnering with schools. 

Did you know that in many schools the vice or assistant principal supports the principal and is often responsible for behavioral issues with students? 

Resources

View Key Terms and Definitions

Next Module

Provider speaking with father and young son at school

Module 10: Confidentiality

For administrative information or to provide feedback about the SchooLink training program, please email BHSContactUs.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov with subject line: SchooLink.