• Hired a mental health coordinator.

• H.H. Garnet and Rock Hall and elementary schools hired school nurses and community school coordinators through the Concentration of Poverty grant program.

• Increased per-pupil funding for Special Education and English Learners.

 

• Hired a behavioral interventionist and a social worker for Kent County Middle School and a second social worker for Kent County High School.

• H.H. Garnet and Rock Hall elementary schools' Community School Implementation Plans to provide wraparound services.

• Rock Hall Elementary School received the Per Pupil Grant through the Concentration of Poverty program.

 

• H.H. Garnet Elementary School may receive the Per Pupil grant through the Concentration of Poverty program in fiscal year 2025.

• Kent County Middle School may become eligible for Concentration of Poverty support in fiscal year 2025.

Kent County Public Schools employs an English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) family liaison as well as additional English Learners (EL) staff to support identified students and increase family engagement. These staff members provide interpreting and translating services. They work with classroom teachers to identify students not succeeding academically and provide guidance and family support. 

 

We have also purchased programs such as Lexia English to enrich the English language development of our students and Imagine Espanol to accelerate students’ home language and promote dual literacy.

 

Click here to learn more about our ESOL Support.

 

Click here to learn more about the Workgroup on Multilingual Learners in Maryland’s Public Schools: https://blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org/ml-workgroup.

As of spring 2024, 100% of special education teachers who co-teach at the elementary level and 80% of special education teachers who co-teach at the middle school are trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy education. All general education teachers in kindergarten through second grade are trained in Orton-Gillingham. 

 

The Kent County Public Schools Special Education Department has partnered with Joyful Inclusion and Kent County Middle School to improve co-teaching practices and coaching of special education teachers. This professional learning series includes a book study for co-teaching pairs and onsite coaching from a consultant in the co-teaching models. The consultant is also building capacity with the coaches (general education and special education) to continue building these skills with all teachers and future staff.  

 

Click here to learn more about our special education programs: https://www.kent.k12.md.us/SpecialEducation.aspx. 

H.H. Garnet Elementary School, shown here on the left, in Chestertown and Rock Hall Elementary School, right, are designated Community Schools.

In Maryland, a Community School is any school that receives Concentration of Poverty Grants. The grants are formula-based and awarded to schools on an annual basis. The determining factor for eligibility is the four-year average of the percentage of the school’s students living in poverty (excluding the 2020-21 school year), as determined by the compensatory education enrollment. This is essentially the number of students receiving free and reduced price meals. 

 

Funding is received at the district level but disbursed directly to the schools. Specifically, the funding is distributed in the following ways:

Community School Coordinators

The Blueprint funds the salaries and benefits for the coordinators assigned to each school. 

Salary and fringe benefits for a registered nurse (RN) were allocated to each school and are paid for by the grant. H.H. Garnet Elementary Schools has a nurse at this time. Rock Hall Elementary School is still trying to recruit an RN.

Services and other programs will be specifically identified based on each school's completed needs assessment. Some services may include: dental and doctor visits, crisis outreach, mental health, aftercare programs, parenting and family counseling.

Each community school has a full-time social worker and guidance counselor. These positions are funded by Kent County Public Schools.

Our Community School goals are:

Mental health

Parent engagement

Before- and after-school activities

Social/emotional health

Physical health

After-school activities

For All Seasons 

Providing school-based therapy for students; filling service gaps in mental health care; providing training to families; enhancing Tier 1 and 2 preventative interventions to promote mental health literacy and early identification for care. 

 

Operating a School-Based Health Center at Rock Hall Elementary; increasing the number of students receiving services in school; expanding services to other sites in Kent County Public Schools; providing substance use assessment and treatment for students at Kent County Middle School and Kent County High School.

 

Hiring additional behavioral and mental health staff; providing Restorative Practices training.

 

Diagnosing behavioral health issues and anxiety levels in the district; piloting to grades 7 and 10 in Spring 2024.