North Newton
Elementary School

Eligibility: Students become eligible for AIG services through a combination of standardized test scores, academic performance, and observational data aligned with the Newton-Conover AIG program standards.

Parent Initiation: Parents seeking AIG evaluation should submit a written request to the school's AIG Coordinator or the School Counselor, detailing the student's advanced proficiencies.

Counselor's Role in Eligibility: I analyze universal screening data to identify students who may be overlooked by traditional referral methods, ensuring equitable representation across demographics.

Counselor's Role in Support: I provide targeted social-emotional support for gifted students, addressing perfectionism, asynchronous development, and peer relationships.

The Process: Yes, North Newton utilizes the MTSS framework. It is a data-driven, tiered approach (Core, Supplemental, Intensive) designed to provide academic and behavioral interventions based on student need. Parents can explore the district's approach via the Important Resources for Parents page and this MTSS Overview Presentation.

Personnel Involved: The MTSS team convenes regularly and includes administration, classroom teachers, interventionists, and the school counselor.

Counselor's Role: I deliver Tier 1 universal social-emotional learning (SEL) instruction, facilitate Tier 2 small-group interventions, and analyze behavioral data to inform Tier 3 support plans.

Eligibility: Eligibility requires a comprehensive psychological and educational evaluation to determine whether a student has a qualifying disability and requires specially designed instruction. The process is overseen by the Exceptional Children Department.

Parent Initiation: Parents must submit a formal, written request for an evaluation to the Principal or the Exceptional Children (EC) Case Manager.

Counselor's Role in Eligibility: I provide critical MTSS intervention data and behavioral observations to the IEP team to inform the evaluation process.

Counselor's Role in Support: I collaborate with EC teachers to support the social-emotional goals outlined in a student's IEP and ensure inclusive practices within the broader school environment.

Eligibility: Students lacking a "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence" qualify for protections and services under the McKinney-Vento Act.

Parent Initiation: Families can complete the district's housing questionnaire during enrollment or contact me directly at any point in the academic year to disclose their housing status confidentially.

Counselor's Role: I identify eligible students, immediately remove barriers to enrollment and attendance, secure transportation, and connect families with critical community resources.

Eligibility: Eligibility is determined by the Home Language Survey completed upon enrollment, followed by the WIDA Screener assessing English language proficiency. You can find more information on the Newton-Conover Multilingual Learner page.

Parent Initiation: Parents initiate this by accurately completing the Home Language Survey during the enrollment process.

Counselor's Role: Drawing on my active research regarding ML students' sense of school belonging, I collaborate with ESL personnel to ensure culturally responsive practices, advocate for translated materials for parents, and foster an environment where ML students feel deeply integrated into the school community.