Caring School Community

The Caring School Community (CSC) program is a nationally and internationally recognized, research-based K–6 program that builds classroom and school-wide community. It focuses on strengthening students’ connectedness to school. This is an important element for increasing academic motivation and achievement and for reducing drug use, violence, and delinquency. The Caring School Community Program is a voluntary school-based preparation program for students at James Marlowe, Hudson Academy, Cottee River, Gulf Highlands, and Richey Elementary Schools operated by Youth & Family Alternatives in cooperation with the Pasco County School Board.

Implementation Sites

• J. Marlowe Elementary (727) 774-8600
• Hudson Primary Academy (727) 774-4700
• Cottee River Elementary (727) 774-3000
• Gulf Highlands Elementary (727) 774-7700
• Richey Elementary (727) 774-3500

Student Support and Assistance Plan Program (SSAP)

The Student Support and Assistance Plan Program is based on the underlying concept that all children can learn and that environments conducive to learning can stimulate student success, focusing on the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of each individual “off track” student. By allowing students to be in regular classrooms, the students are able to experience true team interaction.
Students receive direct instruction under the supervision of classroom teachers. The graduation enhancement teacher functions as a case manager who has a class period each day to write, monitor, and evaluate a student support assistance plan showing ancillary services that will be provided for each SSAP student. The student is assigned FEFP 102 (4-8) or FEFP 101 (1-3). Graduation enhancement teachers will closely monitor student’s academic performance and attendance through the access of myStudent. They will also provide academic advisory services, special pull-out programs, and communicate with parents of “off track” students. Each teacher serves approximately 100 students at secondary schools and 65 students at the elementary level.

Support Our Students Program (SOS)

The Support Our Students (SOS) program was developed for secondary students who are not achieving success in the traditional school setting or are high school dropouts. The goal of this program is to provide a dropout intervention/retrieval education program that will lead to a standard high school diploma. Most of the SOS students have fallen behind because of absenteeism or failing grades. The SOS Program will promote student success by providing educational services designed to accommodate student learning styles, academic and affective needs, interests, and special talents.

SOS students participate in career awareness activities that will foster employability skills. The GEP/SOS teacher will assist students in passing state and district assessments that will lead to a standard high school diploma. Each SOS Program will accommodate between 25 to 30 students (4th-year cohort) as space permits.

Implementation Site

• Anclote High School (727) 246-3000
• Cypress Creek High School (813) 346- 4400
• Fivay High School (813) 246-4000
• Gulf High School (727) 774-3300
• Hudson High School (727) 774- 4200
• J.W. Mitchell High School (727) 774- 9200
• Land O’ Lakes High School (813) 794- 9400
• Pasco High School (813) (352) 524-5500
• River Ridge High School (727) 774- 7200
• Wesley Chapel High School (813) 794-8700
• Wiregrass High School (813) 346-6000
• Zephyrhills High School (352) 524-6100

Teen Parent Program

Pasco’s Teen Parent Program provides a voluntary educational program and childcare for students who are pregnant or are parents. Students participate in courses for credit toward a high school diploma including advanced classes, as well as courses and activities in childcare, parenting, and pre and postnatal health. Teen fathers may choose to participate in Teen Parent Programs at their regional home school or Cyesis center and can participate in child development in the daycare setting. This Graduation Enhancement and Academic Intervention Program is supported by basic FTE and Supplemental Academic Instruction funds. Teen mothers have four options to choose from:

Option 1 – Intended for those students interested in attending Cyesis Teen Parent Program centers

Option 2 – Intended for those students interested in remaining at their neighborhood school

Option 3 – Intended for those students interested in accessing education through Pasco eSchool

Option 4 – Intended for middle school students interested in attending a campus that is in proximity to Cyesis Teen Parent Program sites

Implementation Sites

• All Middle & High Schools – Student Services Personnel (school counselors, social workers, etc.)
• Cyesis Program:
  • Pasco High School (352) 524-5500 or (813) 794-5500
  • River Ridge High School (727) 774-7200

Prevention Intervention Counselors

Prevention Intervention Counselors are available at all high schools to provide interventions and support services for off track students to prevent them from dropping out. They also retrieve high school dropouts.

Program Goals

• To provide dropout intervention /retrieval counseling to all high school and adult education dropouts
• To provide dropout tracking and follow-up information for all high school and adult education dropouts
• To refer high school dropouts to adult education for the high school completion program, when appropriate
• To follow-up on all high school students coded as adult education entrants to verify their attendance in Adult Education

Referral process for enrolled high school students :

• Administrators, school counselors, career specialist, social workers and/or Graduation Enhancement Teachers (SSAP) will refer students to the Dropout Intervention Counselor.
• Parent conference/contact (in-person, by phone, or by mail) must occur prior to the referral to the Prevention Intervention Counselor.

Referral process for high school dropouts :

• Administrators, school counselors, and student services support team will communicate with the Prevention Intervention Counselor when further supports are needed or if the student is interested in pursuing other ways for graduation outside of their regular school.

Referral process for Adult Education entrants :

• The Prevention Intervention Counselor provides follow-up on all high school students coded as Adult Education entrants to verify their attendance in Adult Education. These verification/results are recorded on the Graduation Enhancement Intervention Referral Form

Education Academies/Alternative Schools

The East Pasco Education Academy at James Irvin Campus and West Pasco Education Academy at Harry Schwettman Campus serves students who are academically unsuccessful or unmotivated, have credit deficiencies, have violated School Board policy, have seriously disrupted the learning environment of the school, have been expelled from school, or have a behavior pattern which has not been improved by a continuum of positive intervention strategies.

The East and West Education Academies serves regular and special education youth as an alternative placement in order to ensure continuous academic, mental health and behavioral development to support steps towards a high school diploma.

East Pasco and West Pasco Education Academies are responsible to develop and implement academic, behavioral, and counseling services for youth in need of additional interventions.

By utilizing the prescriptive expectations of each youth’s IEP/IAP and by providing well-trained personnel to implement strategies to address the unique needs of each student, both East and West Pasco Education Academies will prepare the youth served at the school for continuous progression towards high school graduation.

West Pasco Education Academy serves students on the west side of the school district and East West Pasco Education Academy serves students on the center and east sides.

Implementation Sites

• West Pasco Education Academy (727) 774-0000
• East Pasco Education Academy (352) 524-5700

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Department of Juvenile Justice Programs (DJJ)

DJJ programs are provided at the Pasco Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Pasco Girls Academy, and PACE Center for Girls. All DJJ programs are FTE generating and are in full compliance with HB 349 and the Dropout Prevention and Academic Intervention Act. Adjudicated students participate in courses that maintain their educational status in District Schools until they have been released from the facility and are ready to re-enter a District or other public school. Qualifying students will have the opportunity to earn a GED prior to release with any associated fees waived. Students committed to DJJ facilities participate in all required statewide assessment testing.

Educational programs operate on a 12-month basis, 250 days yearly, with no more than ten days of those days being used for teacher planning. PACE Center for Girls operates on a 230-day calendar.

Pasco Juvenile Detention Center (JDC)

The Pasco JDC program provides educational services for students ages 9 -18 who are detained by law enforcement. Emphasis is given to effective learning, as well as a continuation of academic opportunities from the student’s previous school placement and GED preparation.

Pasco County Corrections (PCC)

Pasco County Corrections (PCC) provides K-12 educational programs for juveniles adjudicated as adults and exceptional student education (ESE) students under the age of twenty-two who are incarcerated in those facilities. This program provides inmates the opportunity to earn credits towards standard, State of Florida (GED) and ESE special high school diplomas.

Juvenile Justice Transitional Specialist

The Juvenile Justice Transitional Specialist (JJTS) assists in the school placement for all students returning from out-of-county DJJ programs. The JJTS is the liaison between the District School Board of Pasco County and the Department of Juvenile Justice by assisting Conditional Release Case Managers, Juvenile Probation Officers (JPO’s), and the Public Defender’s office with progress monitoring and provision of educational documentation. The JJTS ensures that each student has an educational representative in attendance for their exit meeting and assists with entry transition referrals for the Alternative Education programs, PACE or zoned schools, alternative education programs and PACE for Girls -Pasco. In addition, the JJTS facilitates the collaboration of mental health and community services with the School District’s Student Services Programs and Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the families, and the community.

Kelli Goff, JJTS (813) 794-0045, (727) 774-0045, (352) 524-0045, Fax (813) 794-0045 email - kgoff@pasco.k12.fl.us