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Home / Standards for Accreditation / Standard 4 - Learning Support

Standard 4 - Learning Support

Learning Support ensures that the school has appropriate systems to support student learning and well-being.

The school has timely, directed, and coordinated interventions for all students. The school provides targeted supports to meet each student’s individual needs, including counseling services, health services, library/information services, and other appropriate support services to assist each student in meeting the school’s vision of the graduate.

Principles of Effective Practice

Click on the topics listed below each Principle to reveal more details and helpful resources.

4.1 All students receive appropriate intervention strategies to support their academic, social, and emotional success.

Descriptors of Effective Practice

The school provides:

  • a range of timely, coordinated, and directive intervention strategies for all students, including identified and at-risk students, that support each student’s success and well-being
  • a formal, defined process to identify and refer students who need additional assistance 
  • information to families, especially to those most in need, about available student support services.

4.1a Foundational Element - The school has intervention strategies designed to support students.

Descriptors of Effective Practice

The school provides:

  • a range of intervention strategies for students
  • a process to identify and refer students who need additional assistance.

4.2 All students receive counseling services that meet their personal, social, emotional, academic, career, and college counseling needs from adequate, certified/licensed personnel.

Descriptors of Effective Practice

School counseling services:

  • have adequate, certified/licensed personnel and support staff to deliver effective services to students
  • include the implementation of a written, developmental program
  • ensure regular meetings with students to provide personal, social, emotional, academic, career, and college counseling
  • include individual and group meetings with all students
  • include delivery of collaborative outreach and referrals to community and area mental health agencies and social service providers.

4.3 All students receive health services that ensure their physical and emotional well-being from adequate, certified/licensed personnel.

Descriptors of Effective Practice

School health services:

  • have adequate, certified/licensed personnel and support staff to deliver appropriate health services to students
  • include preventative health services and direct intervention services
  • ensure the use of an appropriate referral process
  • are informed by ongoing student health assessments.

4.4 All students receive library/information services that support their learning from adequate, certified/licensed personnel. 

Descriptors of Effective Practice

Library/information services:

  • have adequate, certified/licensed personnel and support staff
  • ensure personnel and staff are actively engaged in the implementation of the school's curriculum and instructional practices
  • include a wide range of materials, technologies, and other information services in support of the school's curriculum
  • are available for students and staff before, during, and after school
  • are responsive to students’ interests and needs in order to support independent learning
  • include a physical setting that encourages collaboration among students, opportunities for inquiry, and authentic learning.

4.5 Identified English Language Learners and students with special needs and 504 plans receive appropriate programs and services that support their learning from adequate, certified/licensed personnel.

Descriptors of Effective Practice

Support services for identified students:

  • have adequate, certified/licensed personnel and support staff to meet students’ needs
  • ensure collaboration among all educators, counselors, targeted services, and other support staff in order to achieve success in meeting each student’s goals
  • include appropriate and challenging educational experiences
  • ensure inclusive learning opportunities and instruction.

2020 Standards

2020 Standards for Accreditation

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