The Choices Program

What is the Choices program?
Choices is an instructional program designed to serve students who consistently demonstrate inappropriate behaviors, excluding truancy, that interfere with learning. Students participating in this program have not successfully implemented the behavioral interventions recommended by the school’s Student Response Team (SRT) and administrative staff. The Choices curriculum provides students with information and activities to develop skills necessary to make appropriate choices and to understand the impact of anti-social behavior on their lives, their families, and communities. VBCPS Student Support Specialists teach the research-based social skills curricula.

How are students referred to the program?
Students are referred to Choices through the self-referral process or a Principal, parent/legal guardian, hearing officer, or School Board Discipline Committee may initiate the placement process as another layer of intervention to change inappropriate behavior. Research indicates that the earlier the cycle of problematic behavior is addressed, the more likely the intervention will be successful; a student’s referral to Choices should be preventative intervention used to help change behavior issues within the school.

What is the referral process?
Students may initiate self-referrals by contacting the school’s Student Support Specialist. Administrator referrals are initiated by the principal or their designee. The principal or designee meets with the parent/legal guardian and the student to review the requirements of the Choices program to determine whether the student and parent/legal guardian accept the responsibilities of this placement. If the Choices placement is agreed upon, the principal or designee explains each of the program’s contractual components and has the student and parent/legal guardian initial each area. The school’s principal or designee, contacts the Student Support Specialist assigned to their building to reserve the next available placement date for forward copies of the completed contract, referral form and discipline record of student. A copy of the completed contract, referral form, and student discipline record should be provided to the parent/legal guardian.

What curriculum and services are provided?
Two Choices programs are offered: one at the middle school level and one at the high school level. The Second Step curriculum model will be implemented in the Choices program for the middle school students. The Reconnecting Youth curriculum will be implemented with high school students. Both Second Step and Reconnecting Youth are research-based social skills curricula designed to reduce impulsive, high-risk, and aggressive behaviors. These curricula include group discussions, modeling, coaching, and practice to increase the student’s decision-making ability and self-regulation. Upon completion of the Choices program, students can be assigned to the caseload of their home school’s Student Support Specialist for supplementary support services.

Are special education students accepted?
Special education students are accepted into Choices. The school will provide a copy of the student’s Individual Education Program accommodation page to the Choices intervention staff to ensure the implementation of accommodations during the program.

What are the criteria for completion of the program?
Students are required to make up any missed Choices curriculum assignments. Because consistent attendance in the program is critical, students must adhere to the following protocol. Students will receive compacted instruction to make up missed curriculum if one day is missed as an excused absence. If the student misses another session, the Choices intervention staff will contact the parent/legal guardian to determine the appropriateness of the student continuing in the program. A recommendation to the school’s Principal or designee will follow. Students, parents/legal guardians, teachers, and school administrators will receive notification when the Choices program is completed. Students participating in Choices by self-referral may be placed in the program as an intervention strategy later.