Creating a school environment where every student feels seen, heard and supported is more than just a goal at Niskayuna Central School District, it’s a direct reflection of the district’s mission and strategic plan.
Part of this work has been to conduct and analyze a nationally benchmarked assessment of district programming through the School Health and Assessment & Performance Evaluation (SHAPE).
SHAPE is a nationally recognized, public-access platform that helps school districts and other organizations self-evaluate mental health services to see what is working and what can be improved.
In the fall, a dedicated Mental Health Assessment Committee composed of staff from across the district was tasked with doing a deep dive into the data. They compared results from 2022-23 to the current school year’s assessment. Areas they looked at included screening, early intervention, funding and sustainability.
“We found the SHAPE assessment to be a valuable experience. It helps us better evaluate the district’s efforts around strengthening mental health supports and services,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Timothy Fowler. “We get to celebrate where we have made great strides and make decisions about the areas we would like to continue to grow.”
One of the successful outcomes the committee gleaned from the review was recognizing the district’s progress in moving towards an Optimal Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Model. This student support model operates through a three-tiered system of increasing intensity, and aims to provide high-quality instruction to all students while offering targeted interventions for those who need extra help.
The committee has made the following recommendations:
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- Form a District Mental Health Team to guide needs and resources related to mental health services and supports.
- Explore the implementation of a Universal Screening Tool.
- Establish data collection protocols across the district, focusing on key priority areas for improvement.
“We are excited at the steady progress the committee made over the course of completing the evaluation,” said Director of Counseling and ENL Mike Brannigan. “There was wonderful collaboration that occurred, and we are eager to keep the momentum going to address those recommendations.”
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