District School Counseling

Takia Williams

Supervisor School Counselors

Counselors/ 504 Process/ I&RS/ MTSS

(201) 413-5762

[email protected]

Guidance

The Jersey City Public School District School Guidance Program is an essential and integral part of the district’s total educational program. According to the American School Counselor Association, School Guidance Counselors share the same vision to prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s adults. School Guidance Counselors are committed to eliminating barriers and assisting students in understanding how their choices now will affect their future. All School Guidance Counselors implement developmental guidance to assist students with their academic, social-emotional health, and career development. School Counselors provides a framework of direction in advocating for our students. Basic and consistent forms, practices, and procedures are shared by School Counselors in all Jersey City Public Schools. School counselors are, first and foremost, advocates for their students.

Intervention & Referral Services and the Multi-Tiered System of Support

Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS)  is a New Jersey Department of Education mandated system of clearly defined steps that are defined by NJAC 6A:18-7, which states that every school building must have an I&RS team that ensures interventions are given to struggling students. The I&RS Team is a multidisciplinary team that meets regularly to track the success of students identified through the I&RS process as needing specific academic, health, and behavioral “interventions” to be successful.

Multi-Tiered System of Support

Our mission for our schools is to ensure that JCPS students thrive both academically and socially.  The Jersey City Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) aims to screen early and give support quickly.  Strategic interventions identify students who will benefit from a more targeted approach to Reading, Mathematics, and Social Emotional Learning.  Teachers deliver instruction during whole group and small group instruction and monitor progress to evaluate student success.  Interventions are mandated for students to assist in closing the achievement gap and supporting their social-emotional needs, mental health, and overall wellness. Interventions play an important role in helping students cope, access needed resources, and build resilience.  

504 Process

A 504 Plan is a legal, written document for students with impairments that limit one or more major life activities, having a substantial impact on the student’s academic performance.

504 Components:

• It protects a child’s rights and health at school
• It provides accommodations for qualifying students
• It falls under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• It is reviewed/updated yearly, OR each time a child changes schools.

NJ State 504