ACHIEVMENT CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS – (ACES)
Through a collaborative effort with Darke and Miami County Education Service Center and Darke and Miami County schools, the Council on Rural Services offers an alternative education program for student’s grade 9 through 12 who are credit deficient or looking for an alternative learning environment. The program is designed with a philosophy that all students can learn and can succeed when the conditions are conducive to their emotional and educational needs. The mission is to provide a structured and supportive environment for students that need a different educational choice in order for them to thrive. ACES has a certified teacher, educational aides and mental health services that concentrate on an intense, long-term school program that focuses on graduating students. The coursework includes a focused and personalized curriculum for each student. The program also incorporates activities and services that promote personal development along with address prevention and intervention. We also provide workforce development to learn job readiness and life skills that enable them to become productive citizens. The referral process starts with the student’s home school administrator and permission of the student’s parents or guardian. At the conclusion of the student’s education with ACES, students receive a diploma from their home school.
TUTORING
The tutoring program is offered after-school and during the summer months for students’ kindergarten through 12th grade. Students are provided one hour of one-on-one tutoring once a week with the program available Monday through Friday. After preliminary academic testing, the students are assigned a tutor who meets individually with them at our Gateway building in Greenville and helps to address their academic needs. Volunteer tutors are recruited and trained to provide the individual tutoring with all volunteers being fingerprinted (18 years plus) to ensure safety of the students enrolled.
REFERRAL PROCESS
Students are selected for ACES upon referral from the student’s home school administrator and with permission from the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). An Individual Needs Assessment conducted by ACES staff in cooperation with school representatives, student, and parent(s)/guardian(s) must indicate multiple areas of social and behavioral needs that cannot be sufficiently addressed in the regular school setting.
SERVICES PROVIDED
- Smaller classroom sizes
- Substance abuse counseling and education
- Character building and social skills activities
- Work study component
- Advocacy with the schools and court
- Referrals to other agencies to address student’s needs