To prepare and support the SSCs for the challenges they face, a graduate level 15-semester credit program consisting of 5 courses is currently being offered. This cohort training program includes the following courses.

• Interdesciplinary Team Development
• Advanced Interdisciplinary Team & System Development
• Interdisciplinary Assessment to Affective Practices
• Advanced Interdisciplinary Assessment to Effective Practices
• Portfolio / Fieldwork.

The Interdisciplinary Disability and Diversity Studies Certificate Program for Student Service Coordinators and Student Support Teams is a graduate level program consisting of five 3-credit courses:

HSSW 651: Interdisciplinary Team Development
Course provides the opportunity for students to develop knowledge and skills to participate effectively on interdisciplinary teams with professionals and family members. Readings, discussion, and experiential learning will provide opportunities for students to develop theoretical and applied approaches to building partnerships and collaborative teams with professionals and families. The goal is to provide opportunities for SSC’s and Student Support Teams to gain leadership skills to effectively promote service integration and coordination of education, social, health, mental health and other services to meet the social, emotional and physical needs required for all children, including children with disabilities.

EDUC 697: Advanced Interdisciplinary Team & System Development
Course offers a forum for participant/students to gain a working knowledge of the essential elements of facilitating effective team meetings which follow the latest legislation and policy decisions, are based on research-based practices, and expand one’s knowledge of resources which can enhance student’s learning. Additionally, participants will explore building the capacity of their school system to provide the supports students require to participate and succeed in the general curriculum, to enhance family involvement and to leverage resources required to enhance learning. (see project overview - pdf format)

EDUC 695: Interdisciplinary Assessment to Effective Practices
This course assists students in gaining an understanding and appreciation for assessment methodologies (both functional and clinical) across disciplines, culturally diverse, and PK-12 that address barriers to learning for all students within the context of the Comprehensive Student Support System (CSSS). Students will gain an understanding and appreciation for an array of instructional research-based practices across disciplines, culturally diverse, and PK-12 within the context of CSSS and inclusive of the Standards Implementation Design (SID) and School-Based Mental Health Plans. Lastly, students will develop an understanding of strength-based, family-focused, culturally sensitive approaches to assessment, planning and implementation of research-based instruction that remove barriers to learning for all students.

EDUC 696: Advanced Interdisciplinary Assessment to Effective Practices
Course is designed to assist students to gain an understanding and appreciation for assessment methodologies (both functional and clinical) across disciplines, culturally diverse, and PK-12 that address barriers to learning for all students within the context of the Comprehensive Student Support System (CSSS). Students will be oriented to an array of instructional research –based practices across disciplines, culturally diverse, and PK-12 within the context of CSSS and inclusive of the Standards Implementation Design (SID) and School-Based Mental Health Plans. Lastly, students will develop an understanding of strength-based, family-focused, culturally sensitive approaches to assessment, planning and implementation of research-based instruction that remove barriers to learning for all students.

EDUC 698: Portfolio/Fieldwork
This course is the culmination of the previous 4 courses with a final portfolio project that is unique to each school. The portfolio is designed to Create the Ideal Student Supports: A Blueprint for All Students to Succeed. Participant/students will select one key barrier to learning and provide a comprehensive description of student supports across all program elements and levels of intervention, addressing all the supports needed to fully address barriers so all students can succeed. An assessment of all partners in education will address what is needed to sustain an Ideal Student Support and 5 case studies will be presented to illustrate what a student’s needs are relative to the selected barrier across all 5 levels of intervention.

Note: Four of these courses culminate in SSC products, see SSC projects on this site.