Education support is the range of auxiliary services that keep a school operating and students healthy, safe and ready to learn. It includes a wide variety of professional, administrative and technical staff.
Academic advisers offer support to students in achieving their educational goals and aspirations. Guidance counselors help them decide on college admissions or vocational choices.
Academic Support
Academic support encompasses a wide range of instructional methods and school resources. These include tutoring sessions, supplemental courses, summer learning experiences, after-school programs, teacher advisors and volunteer mentors. Academic support may be provided to specific student populations as part of a mandated program, or it may be provided in a purely voluntary manner.
Students who seek academic support typically do so through peers, family members or their teachers. However, these sources are not always accessible or able to meet the students’ needs. This is particularly true for minority or low-income students.
Academic support systems should be designed to help students overcome the obstacles that prevent them from seeking the help they need. For example, a heuristic approach can be useful in encouraging students to seek assistance from teachers or peers, while addressing the barriers that inhibit their willingness to do so. Academic support should be an integral component of the school curriculum and daily classroom instruction.
Guidance
Guidance is a broad term that refers to a range of services to support students’ social and emotional well-being. These services can include counseling, career development, and personal and family support. They can also help students navigate the challenges that may come up in school. Guidance can be incredibly helpful for both students and teachers.
For students, guidance can help them deal with issues like stress and anxiety. It can also help them find their passions and explore their talents. For teachers, guidance can provide them with resources to help manage their classrooms and support student mental health.
Education supporters are a vital part of the education system, working to keep schools running and students safe and healthy. They often receive little on-the-job training, but are given a brief orientation or grace period so they can observe classes and become acquainted with the student body. ESPs are involved in a wide variety of education support components, including health and student services, transportation, food services, custodial services, and skilled trades.
ESL (English as a Second Language)
Students whose native language is not English often take ESL classes to improve their ability to speak, listen, read, and write in this language. These classes are typically offered at community colleges or universities and can be taken full time or part time. Students who enroll in these classes may also have other issues such as learning disabilities that make it challenging for them to master the English language on their own.
Teachers can find a variety of education support resources that help them instruct ELLs. These educational resources include professional development platforms, teaching strategies, and a host of other resources that can help educators create inclusive classrooms for students who are working toward English proficiency. The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition offers teachers access to webinars and workshops, research-based publications, and guidelines on policies and laws pertaining to ELL instruction. The Colorin Colorado website features a number of resources for educating ELLs, including lesson plans, instructional materials, and teacher-to-teacher networking.
Library and Media Services
The library media specialists at each school work with students, parents and teachers to foster a love of reading and support curriculum goals. They also teach students information literacy skills to help them become informed and responsible consumers of information in both print and electronic formats.
The district’s library media services program promotes high achievement in academics and fosters the development of lifelong learning. Its purpose is to positively influence student learning by providing students with access to a wide variety of educational resources, teaching information literacy skills and actively participating in collaborative lesson planning and implementation with classroom teachers.
Library collections are based on reader interest, support of state academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic needs of staff and students. Educators and library media specialists are sensitive to the varying cultural, language, religious beliefs and interests of students when selecting reading materials for individual students. They also take care when selecting books that may be considered offensive or mature for some readers.