The districtrecognizes that guidance and counseling is an important part of the totalprogram of instruction and should be provided in accordance with state laws andregulations, district policies and procedures, and available staff and program support.
The generalgoal of this program is to help students achieve the greatest personal valuefrom their educational opportunities. Such a program should:
A. Provide staff with meaningful informationwhich can be utilized to improve the educational services offered to individualstudents.
B. Provide students with planned opportunitiesto develop future career and educational plans.
C. Refer students with special needs toappropriate specialists and agencies.
D. Aid students in identifying options and makingchoices about their educational program.
E. Assist teachers and administrators inidentifying the academic, social and emotional needs of students.
F. Provide for a follow-up of students whofurther their education and/or move into the world of work.
G. Solicit feedback from students, staff andparents for purposes of program improvement.
All staffshall encourage students to explore and develop their individual interests incareer and vocational technical programs and employment opportunities withoutregard to sex including reasonable efforts encouraging students to consider andexplore “nontraditional” occupations for men and women.
Because theentire staff, as well as the students, can benefit from and contribute towardthe prevention of adolescent suicide, the board directs the superintendent todevelop and implement a comprehensive suicide awareness and prevention program.The program that is developed should help the school staff, parents andstudents to:
A. Understand the developmental stages ofadolescence and the causes of suicide;
B. Recognize the early warning sign of suicide;
C. Learn how to help in a suicidal crisis;
D. Identify community resources and proceduresthat can help a suicidal person;
E. Address the repercussions of such a tragedy.
In
incidentsof potential self-destructive behavior the student's parent(s) or
guardianshall be notified immediately and their cooperation shall be sought
forimmediate intervention. If the parent or guardian is unwilling to cooperate,
theschool administration shall contact appropriate agencies to requestintervention
on the student's behalf. In cases of child abuse or neglect,school staff is
required to contact child protective services.
The boarddirects the superintendent to work with the staff, community and appropriateagencies to develop, implement and regularly evaluate guidance and counselingprograms.
CrossReferences: Board Policy 2121 SubstanceAbuse Program
BoardPolicy 3421 Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Prevention
BoardPolicy 4020 Confidential Communications
LegalReferences: RCW 28A.640.020 Regulatingguidelines to eliminate discrimination — Scope
WAC 392-190-015 Counselingand guidance — Duty of certificated and classroom personnel — Coordination of effort
ManagementInformation:
Policy News, December 1999 Suicide prevention provisions reintroduced
AdoptionDate: