Learning Options Programs



I began my journey to become a school counselor because I wanted to help students plan for their futures following high school. Many may struggle with decisions about where to go to college, or if they will learn a trade, go on to work, join the military or start a business. The choices are endless with a diploma however it is necessary to set goals and make plans so that they may achieve the goals they have set for themselves.

For many, it might have been an easy journey and for others not so easy. They are many students however who face many challenges that make attending a traditional school setting unmanageable for them.  One role of the counselor is to advocate for the needs of the client or student (Erford, 2018). Because some students may not go seek help from the counselor when in need the professional counselor will have to be able to identify those students by building healthy relationships with parents, grandparents, or guardians (
Warren, Coker & Collins, 2019). They may be aware of the strains that some of the students are facing.


Learning Options Program is designed to help students perform better in a setting that is much different from the traditional school setting. These programs can be stand-alone schools or programs within a school that are creative, innovative, and structured alternatives within an educational setting. 


 Reaching Potential through Manufacturing 
Richmond County School system through the partnership with Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc give students the ability to make up lost work towards diploma while also earning an income and work experience while working in a manufacturing facility. The student has a flexible school and work schedule.

Performance Learning Center
It is a virtual high school. Students master knowledge and skills that will prepare students for technical school, college, military, or the workforce.


RCSS offers many different school choices to meet the many different interests of the student. On the blog post, I highlighted the options for at-risk high school students. 


References
Alternative-Education-Program-and-Magnet-Schools   // . (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/School-Improvement-Services/Pages/Alternative-Education-Program-and-Magnet-Schools.aspx

Erford, B. T. (Ed.). (2018). Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and essential professional foundations (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Gould, Skye. “The Most Common Reasons Students Drop out of High School Are Heartbreaking.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 1 Oct. 2015, www.businessinsider.com/most-common-reasons-students-drop-out-of-high-school-2015-10.

Warren, J. M., Coker, G. L., & Collins, M. L. (2019). Children of Incarcerated Parents: Considerations for Professional School Counselors. Professional Counselor, 9(3), 185–199.

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