Learning Climate – Background Information / Documents
Staff attendance
- Each year staff are allotted 10 days of paid time off (PTO leave). The Akron School District has a process that simplifies an absence, and allows staff to access their days as needed. We have several paraprofessionals that also serve as substitutes if needed. We have found that the use of the paraprofessionals allows for a seamless transition for our students.
Student Behavior Policies
- Behavioral expectations are taught to K-12 students at the beginning and mid year and refreshed, as needed. Students are taught RAMS Behavior: Respect for self, others and property, Achieve Greatness, Manage Self and Staying Safe. Behavior expectations are taught by classroom teachers and cover behaviors expected in all major areas of the building. Using RAMS language is built into our daily routines.
- RAMS behavior teaching matrix
- RAMS PBIS Poster
District or School-Wide PBIS
- Akron School District using an MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) approach, which encompassed PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Systems) and RTI (Response to Intervention). We have a district-wide MTSS team that meets monthly and reviews our SWIS data, which houses our discipline data. Our MTSS team follows an annual calendar and we have an MTSS coach who supports this process and helps administer surveys and walkthroughs to assess our process. We use the feedback to help guide our work throughout the year. We have student behavior reward systems in place for all grade levels. We also have a formal process in place for teachers to request RTI for students in need of additional supports.
Social Emotional Learning Program
- The school district has two school counselors who align their regularly scheduled student lessons to the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) standards. School counselors also support individual needs, as well as run small groups. Elementary students are taught Kelso’s Choices, which is a conflict resolution program. MS/HS students are exposed to 7 Mindset during student success and advisory hours directed by our Student Lead Wellness group. Our MS/HS counselor also provides social lessons to our MS students during their student success class.
- MS/HS Counselor Monthly Newsletter
- Career Readiness Monthly Newsletter
ICAP Approach
- This school year we will be using Schoolinks, a student platform, to help support students’ ICAP process. Schoolinks has career and interest inventories, and learning inventories for students to complete. Based on the student’s responses potential careers will be identified, which guides the students schedule. The school district also hosts its own College Fair in the fall, which allows middle and high school students to connect with college representatives. The high school has worked hard to provide a vast amount of learning opportunities for their students and have added classes like construction to our offerings. Students also have the opportunity of taking high school based interest classes through an online platform and our students can also take advantage of concurrent enrollment to help give students an early start on their college degrees.
- Graduation Requirement Graphic
- Akron Portrait of a Graduate