Student Services

What is SEL?

SEL refers to another important component for College and Career Readiness within our District Strategic Plan. SEL stands for Social Emotional Learning. All students receive instruction from research-based SEL curriculum embedded in their classrooms, taught by their teachers. These lessons are crucial, especially in elementary school, to promote character development, healthy behaviors, as well as social and coping skills. SEL curriculums include:

• Elementary
  • Growth Mindset
  • Goal Setting
  • Emotion Management
  • Empathy
  • Kindness
  • Problem Solving 
  • Mindfulness
• Intermediate and Secondary: 
  • Mindfulness
  • Making Decisions
  • Coping Skills
  • Social Skills
  • Assertiveness
  • Resolving Conflicts
  • Media Influences
  • Resisting Peer Pressure
  • Communication Skills
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Drug Abuse and Violence: Cause and Effect

Content materials are aligned with those identified by the American School Counseling Model, or AXCA, as well as the Wisconsin Model Academic Standard for School Counseling

How can I make arrangements for my child to receive counseling support at school?

• Student Services Staff:
  • Every school in the West Allis- West Milwaukee School District has at least one Student Services staff member that can provide school counseling services to students. These staff members include professional school counseling services to students. These staff members include professional school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers. Providing counseling and responsive services for school-related concerns is another very important part of our Comprehensive Program. Parents and/or students should contact their school office for appointments with Student Services staff. 
• School Based Services
  • The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District partners with counseling services from PSG (Professional Service Group) and Wellpoint to provide school based counseling services for students. Therapists from these services come into our schools during the day for individual counseling sessions with students and work with your family's insurance.

ANNUAL NOTICE
Rights of Students in Housing Transition or Experiencing Homelessness

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every student identified by the District as in housing transition or homeless shall have equal access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who have permanent housing. This commitment to the educational rights of children, youth who are in housing transition or are homeless applies to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available by the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. 

A student is considered “in transition” or “homeless” if as a result of economic hardship and lack of adequate alternative housing if he or she is presently living:
* in a emergency or transitional shelter or agency
* sharing housing with relatives or others
* in a motel, hotel, campground, or similar situation
* at a train or bus station, park, or in a car
* in an abandoned building, substandard housing, or another place not designed to house people

All students who are in transition or homeless have rights to:
* Immediate school enrollment. A school must immediately enroll students even if they lack health,immunization or school records, proof of guardianship, or proof of residency.  
* Request enrollment in:
- the school he/she attended when permanently housed (school of origin) and prior to being in transition or homeless
- the school in which he/she was last enrolled (school of origin)
- any school that permanently housed students in the same attendance area are eligible to attend
* Remain enrolled in his/her selected school for as long as he/she remains in transition or homeless, or, if the student becomes permanently housed (e.g. maintains same adequate nighttime residence for one school semester), until the end of the academic year.
* Priority in certain preschool programs.
* Participate in school sponsored activities including tutorial-instructional support programs, sports, clubs,and when needed receive fee waivers and supplies for activities.
* Obtain information/ referrals for community resources and medical and mental health services.
* Free School Meals
* Transportation services: A student who meets the above criteria for “in transition” or “homeless” and is attending his/her school of origin has a right to transportation to go to and from the school of origin until he/she becomes permanently housed. Staff shall inform parents/guardians or youth that of transportation services may be available. If the family or student establishes permanent housing outside of West Allis-West Milwaukee, he/she may continue to attend the school of origin for the remainder of the academic year. In most cases, once permanent housing is established, transportation services are discontinued.

McKinney Vento Information: 

• Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY)
• National Center for Homeless Education

Resources:

• 211 Guide
• Milwaukee Area Guide to Community Resources - English 
• Milwaukee Area Guide to Community Resources - Spanish 

Housing

• West Allis Housing
• Housing Authority (City of Milwaukee) 
• Community Advocates 

If you or someone you know has a child between the ages of 3–21 who has not graduated from high school and is in any of the above housing situations please contact Sara Helminger, Students in Transition Coordinator at (414) 604-3223.

• A 504 is a legal document (under Federal Law: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) that outlines accommodations that must be provided for the student to gain access to the regular education curriculum. This means it requires that the needs of a student with a disability are met to the same degree as the needs of a student who does not have a disability and offers that student accommodations that go above and beyond supports that already occur in the classroom. 
• The accommodations are provided by the regular education teacher (i.e. enlarged fonts, pre-prepared note for student, etc.)
• Qualification criteria will ask how the suspected disability substantially limits a major life activity without mitigating factors. 
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Procedures
• Parent/Student Rights
• Impartial Due Process Hearing Procedures