OnTrack Greenville Update                                    November 2015
Surrounding Students With a  
"Village" of  Caring Adults
Lakeview OT Team
Lakeview Middle's OnTrack Greenville Team Meeting
OT Team
Focusing on students, data, and interventions to get students back on track
 
Central to the success of the OnTrack Greenville initiative are weekly Early Warning and Response team meetings held for each grade level at the OnTrack schools. Dubbed "OnTrack Meetings," these meetings focus on students who are shown to be off track in one or more of the ABCs, (attendance, behavior, and/or course grades). During the meetings, the reasons for the student being off track, the level of intervention that is needed, and the right intervention to get the student back on track are all discussed, as well as appointing an advocate for the child to ensure their needs are met timely. In these meetings there is diversity of perspectives, which adds richness to the dialogue and better serves students. These meetings often include teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, mental health specialists and community partners, such as Communities In Schools Student Support Specialists. 

Working as a Team
Now that the "OnTrack Meetings" have become a part of the school culture, they are noticing a shift in the way staff uses data to drive decisions regarding students, as well as an increased capacity of the staff members to work together and solve challenges. With an increased knowledge of the available school and community resources, the teams are focused on understanding the underlying causes of the student challenges and are working diligently together to find the most appropriate interventions to alleviate those barriers.
Emerging Successes
Below is just one of many stories that were shared by a Mental Health Specialist from an OnTrack Greenville school, of how the initiative has already made a difference in the life of a student:

"We identified an 8th grade female student who started the year with some behavioral problems, which were causing disruptions in the classroom. At our [OnTrack] meetings we identified the need for the student to be connected with Communities In Schools' services for behavior intervention, motivation, and life skills.

Our Communities In Schools (CIS) student support specialist has been working with the student to develop behavioral goals and to partner the student with others who are having the same challenges. The student is holding herself accountable, and is encouraging friends to do the same. She has been able to recognize when she is out of line, and get herself back on track. We have observed a change in her behavior. She has become engaged in class and her academics. Teachers are calling home to share good news with parents about her high test scores.

Our work is still in progress, but with the interventions we have implemented, we are seeing the student getting back on track for success."

Partner Spotlight:
Communities In Schools of Greenville  
Lakeview CIS
Communities In Schools of Greenville (CIS) has been committed to supporting Greenville students and families for more than 20 years by "empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life." CIS uses an evidence-based approach to help children with challenges both inside and outside the classroom. The model can be adapted to meet each school's unique needs. Through school-based Student Support Specialists, CIS aligns and delivers needed resources to provide five basic needs for students:
  • a positive relationship with a caring adult,
  • a safe place to learn and grow,
  • basic health and human services,
  • career development and readiness,
  • and a chance to give back to their peers and community. 
Each Specialist works directly with students, but also works closely with community agencies, school administrators, staff and teachers to meet these needs. 
 
As part of OnTrack Greenville, ten Specialists have been placed in the White Horse community middle schools (one per grade level at Lakeview, Tanglewood, and Berea Middle Schools, plus one at Greenville Early College) to implement evidence-based solutions designed to:
  • improve attendance,
  • decrease behavior issues,
  • reduce risky behaviors,
  • smooth the transition into and out of middle school,
  • keep students engaged,
  • increase parental involvement,
  • engage the community in student success,
  • and make sure students are academically prepared to enter high school. 
As highlighted in the success story above, CIS is an important participant in the OnTrack team and can implement individualized support for students in need. To learn more about the Communities In Schools model and the work they are doing in Greenville, please visit: cisgreenville.org 

Lakeview 8th grade CIS students learn from GHS Pediatrics 
OnTrack Greenville Student Support Specialists 
Lakeview 7th Grade CIS Students hear from a guest speaker 


A partnership of United Way of Greenville County, Greenville County Schools, Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy, Riley Institute at Furman University, Social Innovation Fund and other nonprofits, OnTrack Greenville is an innovative new initiative to keep middle school students engaged and on track to graduation. To learn more, visit www.OnTrackGreenville.org.