Philosophy

The Ankeny Community School District’s mission “engaging all students in an educational experience that equips them with the skills to flourish in and contribute to an ever-changing world.” is exemplified by how we serve at-risk students.

Goals

The Ankeny Community School District’s At-Risk goals are:

• To support at-risk students’ career/vocational development
• To promote at-risk connections to school
• To involve students families and the community in the educational process
• To make education a cooperative effort between home and school
• To promote at-risk social/emotional growth

Local At-Risk Programming

The Ankeny Community School District maintains, adjusts, and audits the programming options and monitoring protocols for identified at-risk students and closely adheres to the Department of Education Standard for At-Risk Education. The following components serve as a framework for PreK-12 local programming options.

Strategies for Identification of At-Risk Students

Ankeny uses the following criteria, as established by Iowa Code section 257.39, for identification of at-risk students. Students must meet two of the follwoing criteria to be eligible and receive services.

• High rate of abseteeism, truancy, or frequent tardiness
• Limited connectivity or lack of identification with school, including but not limited to , expressed feelings of not belinging
• Poor grades, including but not limited to, failing in one or more school subjects or grade levels
• Low achievement scores in reading or mathematices which reflect achievement at least two years or more below grade level

Special Instructional Support Services

Supplemental and/or intensive support is given to students who meet the established criteria. Individual schools will have supports identified and in place to meet the students’ needs, with the range of services determined at the building level.

Appropriate Counseling Services

Appropriate counseling services includes the identification, monitoring, and provision of assistance to students regarding their academic, career and personal social development. The standard for at-risk counseling services are made available to at-risk students to no less an extent than provided to other students and, to the extent possible, be provided as needed.

Involvement of All School Personnel

At-risk personnel collaborate and utilize the district’s professional learning communities format to ensure that all identified students are receiving services to promote their academic success. Plans for providing and improving services for at-risk students reflect efforts by all staff in a comprehensive effort. At-risk personnel are active participants and leaders in the professional development at the building level.

Compliance with Federal and State Non-Discrimination Legislation

Federal and state nondiscrimination legislation supports place attention on at least four strategic areas related to the education of At-Risk students.

• Identification and placement processes
• Educational programming and support services
• Data based decision-making
• Employment and personnel practices

At-Risk Education

As defined by 281 Iowa Administrative Code 12.2(256), an ‘at-risk student’ means any identified student who needs additional support and who is not meeting or not expected to meet the established goals for the educational program (academic, personal/social, career/vocational). At-risk students include but are not limited to students in the following groups: homeless children and youth, dropouts, returning dropouts, and potential dropouts.

The Ankeny Community School District will include in its comprehensive school improvement plan the following provisions for meeting the needs of at-risk students (281 Iowa Administrative Code 12.5(13)):

Valid and systematic procedures and criteria to identify at-risk students throughout the school district’s school-age population,

Determination of appropriate ongoing educational strategies for alternative options education programs as required in Iowa Code of section 280.19A, and

Review and evaluation of the effectiveness of provisions for at-risk students.

K-12 Programming

The Ankeny Community School District provides intervention and prevention services for students At-Risk. The At-Risk programs are varied, but include the following:

Academic Intervention Services

Our 6-12 buildings have highly qualified staff in the areas of Math and Language Arts that support identified at-risk students.

After School Programming

Programming options for after school opportunities look different depending upon a student’s grade level. Opportunities will be arranged for identified at-risk students and communicated via the at-risk teacher(s), counselors or administrators.

Credit Recovery

Credit Recovery is a secondary intervention option available for all 9th – 12th grade students who have failed a core course. Students work with an at-risk teacher to ensure the integrity of instruction and credit completion. Credits are traditionally earned through Edgenuity learning environment. The counselors and at-risk teachers work collaboratively to determine credits that need to be recovered. Credit recovery options are available during the course of the school year, as well as during the summer.

SCHOOL BASED THERAPY – LIFEWORKS