Assistance Courses & Support Programs
Stevenson High School provides a continuum of courses and support programs to ensure that all students have access to a rigorous course of study while supporting their individual needs to ensure success. None of the following courses meet the core course graduation requirements. The following describes this continuum:
Academic Literacy 1
The focus of this course provides instruction in the skills needed for success in high school and beyond. This course emphasizes fundamental literacy within all academic disciplines with a focus on those subjects and skills most appropriate to freshman year. Students will learn strategies to support reading, writing, and listening and speaking skills in science, English, social studies and mathematics. Depending on their benchmark and/or ongoing assessment results, this course may be required of some entering freshmen. This course counts for one elective Communication Arts credit, but is not an English graduation credit.
Academic Literacy 2
This course provides in-depth instruction in the skills needed for success in high school and beyond tailored to the curriculum and needs of sophomores and juniors. This course emphasizes fundamental literacy within a variety of academic disciplines. Students will learn strategies to support reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in science, English, social studies and mathematics. Depending on their benchmark, past performance, and/or ongoing assessment results, this course may be required of some students. This course counts for one elective communication arts credit, but is not an English graduation credit.
Mentor Math
A student is placed into Mentor Math upon the recommendation of the content teacher when in- class instruction is not enough to support the student in either Algebra 1, Geometry or Algebra 2. The class is designed to offer intensive, small group math instruction with a mathematics teacher to reinforce current content and develop prerequisite skills. This course is pass/fail and counts for one elective mathematics credit per semester, but does not count toward the six mathematics credits needed for graduation. Students must enter the course by the nine-week mark to receive credit.
Guided Study Math
Guided Study Math is a non-credit bearing course that often takes the place of a traditional study hall. An incoming freshman student is placed into the one period of Guided Study Math based on feeder school or director recommendation, as determined by the freshman benchmark exam. Students can also be placed into Guided Study Math upon the recommendation of their content (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) teacher. The support is designed to offer small group math help with a mathematics trained support staff member. In Guided Study Math, mathematics skills and homework completion are the priorities; however, other academics also are addressed. Class size is small (with a maximum of 12 students per class) to ensure individualized, personal attention in a nurturing atmosphere.
Guided Study
Guided Study is a non-credit bearing course that often takes the place of a traditional study hall. Entrance into Guided Study is made by the sending feeder school or the student’s Student Support Team (SST). This support program focuses on the development of study and organizational skills, project and test preparation, and homework completion. Weekly course grade monitoring with the student develops executive functioning and self-advocacy skills. Class size is small (with a maximum of 12 students per class) to ensure individualized, personal attention in a nurturing atmosphere.
Mentor Skills
Mentor Skills is a one-period class that meets daily in which students earn one elective credit per semester. The purpose of Mentor Skills is to help students achieve academic and social-emotional independence through a supportive environment, focusing on the five Social-Emotional Learning competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The Mentor Skills program also focuses on executive functioning and study skills. Students are identified for the Mentor Skills program by their Student Support Team (SST) based on entrance criteria.
