Counseling in Education Program

Overview

The Counseling and Education Program (CEP) provides integrated counseling and special education services for elementary, middle and secondary school students who have been identified with significant emotional and behavioral needs. Students are referred to the CEP from any of the 16 participating school districts of the Contra Costa County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

The CEP is based at the Floyd I. Marchus School in Concord and extends through a network of satellite classes on district sites throughout the county. Also integrated into the program is an intensive mental health enhanced classroom at the middle school level that was formed in partnership with county mental health services.

The CEP relies on the support and participation of each student's family as well as numerous related agencies. The staff communicates frequently with families and encourages them to connect with and fully utilize community support services. A rich level of support staff includes school social workers, psychologists, a speech therapist, nurse, occupational therapist, and a vocational transition specialist.

The intent of the CEP is to help students address their educational and personal issues, change their behavior, and transition to a less restrictive educational setting when appropriate. Accordingly, the CEP teaches academic, social, and conflict resolution skills that emphasize academic achievement and promote healthy emotional development. Additionally, the CEP uses a variety of behavior management techniques to help students correct the inappropriate behaviors which may inhibit their return to a district school campus. Students are recommended for placement in the satellite classes when their behavior is appropriate for a district school campus.

The academic curriculum is standards-based and CEP teachers and staff strive to provide a program similar to that which students may expect upon returning to their district school. All students have access to state-adopted curriculum materials in all of the core content areas. Furthermore, all students in grades 2-11 are expected to participate in the state mandated STAR testing process and seniors are expected to pass the CASHEE in order to obtain their diploma. For interested secondary level students, two ROP vocational training programs are based at the Marchus campus.

The staff/student classroom ratio approximates one teacher to eight students with one instructional assistant per class. The exception to this staffing level is in the mental health enhanced class, which has a teacher and three instructional assistants. Target class size is eight students with a minimum class size of six students and a maximum of ten. There are a total of 180 student instructional days with an additional 20 days of extended year. The Marchus School bell schedule starts at 8:30 and concludes at 2:00. In large part, satellite classes follow their district site calendars and bell times.

The staff members work within a collaborative model to help each student meet the social, emotional, academic, and behavioral goals that are prescribed in the student's Individual Education Program (IEP). Each student has an assigned counselor who serves as the student case manager and acts as the educational liaison for student services. Psychological assessment and Designated Instructional Services (DIS) are available through appropriate referral and assessment. These pupil services are included in the overall cost of the program.

Marchus School History

The Marchus School was dedicated in May of 1985 in honor of former Superintendent of Schools, Floyd I. Marchus. Floyd Marchus had a long career with the County Office of Education, serving as Superintendent for 21 years and as Director of Research for ten years prior. He was also a former executive officer of the County Board of Education.