Student Services

The Office of Student Support Services supports all schools in Austin ISD by providing educational support services, including after-school and evening programs, tutoring, and on-site childcare in safe and structured learning environments, as well as enrichment and special services for refugees, students who are homebound or experiencing homelessness, and adults learning ESL. The department also helps coordinate multiple programs in the district:

• • Before and After School Programming

    • Prime Time Programming

    • Twilight Credit Recovery Program

    • Third Base After School Program

    • ACE Austin

  • Virtual Online Instruction

    • DELTA Program

    • Garza Independence Online High School Program

There are both academic and social benefits of student activities. Students who participate in these activities achieve higher grades, are more motivated, have fewer discipline problems, are less likely to drop out of school, and are more likely to graduate and apply to college. The benefits are particularly significant for at-risk students, for whom student activities have been found to reduce juvenile crime, provide a sense of connectedness to the school, increase self-esteem, and create positive social networks they might not otherwise have.

Recommendations for Principals

• Ensure staff directing student activities receive professional development in the area of responsibility and appropriate compensation for the work provided while fulfilling this supervisory duty.

• Avoid establishing a hierarchy of student activities that leads to funding competition.

• Ensure that student activities are age-appropriate; non-discriminatory; well-planned, organized, and implemented; supervised by professional staff; and evaluated on a regular basis.

• Encourage students, particularly those at-risk or disengaged, to participate in student activities.

Source: NASSP Page "Student Activities"