NOLA Public Schools recognizes that some students need additional services to fully access a high-quality education. The Office of Student Support & Attendance (OOSSA) exists to help families navigate these supports in our decentralized system of schools. We provide assistance for students who may be experiencing:
- Chronic absenteeism or truancy
- Significant mental or behavioral health challenges
- Persistent discipline concerns
- Transitions from psychiatric or medical facilities
- Homelessness or housing instability
- Involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system
The OOSSA manages and operates the Policing Alternatives for Youth (PAY) Program, The Office of Student Discipline and Behavior Support, Truancy Center (TC), and Youth Opportunity Center (YOC). This office seeks to improve academic outcomes of students by assisting families in accessing needed social services so they may remain enrolled and engaged in school. Our office partners with Orleans Parish schools to increase staff capacity through trainings and support; aiming to strengthen the ability of school providers to provide effective, aligned, and differentiated supports for identified students. OOSSA also leverages community support to increase the local community’s awareness and solicit shared responsibility to address chronic student absence and school disengagement.
For support services for EL Students, please check out:
Office of Student Support & Attendance (OOSSA) Initiatives
To address these critical issues, OSSA which focuses on these four areas:
I. Behavioral Health Initiatives
The OSSA supports students and families by using a student-centered and school-connected approach focusing on students experiencing severe mental and/or behavioral health issues that have gone unresolved despite significant school-based interventions, or students experiencing homelessness/housing instability that is interfering with the student’s attendance at school. Through our Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) Program, we provide two levels of case management services: quick connect and intensive case management services, working to bridge the gap between schools, families, and community agencies. We prevent students from falling through the cracks and work to improve academic outcomes by partnering with schools to identify the root cause of the student’s behavioral health challenges, offering consultation on challenging cases, and providing training to increase the capacity of school staff and leaders.
II. Juvenile Justice Initiatives
The OSSA provides advocacy and support for students involved in the juvenile and criminal justice system, including working closely with the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings, which provides educational services by contract to students in the . Youth Study Center and Orleans Justice Complex.
The OSSA provides liaison services between NOLA Public Schools and Orleans Parish Juvenile Court (OPJC) for court involved students; conducts school placements and verifications; provides judicial consultations and assisting judges in understanding school policies and procedures; facilitates school re-entry meetings; and monitors all school-based arrests. The OSSA coordinates interventions, case management services for all youth eligible for PAY offenses. We partner with the City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Family Services, New Orleans Police Department, and Covenant House to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system while providing support and wraparound services. The OSSA works closely with the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Schools (CEEAS), which provides educational services for students at the Youth Study Center and Orleans Justice Complex.
III. School Attendance Initiatives
Parents may reach out to the OSSA for support in addressing school attendance issues with their student. Our office oversees the following programs that support families and schools in addressing school attendance:
The Truancy Center is a safe haven for students found out of school during school hours. The Truancy Center is not a punitive consequence but an intervention to support families and schools. The OSSA will notify parents and schools if and when a student is dropped off at the Truancy Center and works with the family and school to reconnect the student to school. The OSSA manages all truancy and school-related cases appearing in Orleans Parish Municipal Court. Parents will receive support from a Social Worker on our team and can expect ongoing communication and coordination from our office on these cases. If ordered by the judge, our office may provide intensive case management services to students and families served in Municipal Court. The OSSA implements prevention and intervention strategies to identify, support, and reconnect students who are not enrolled in school, did not complete registration within 5 days of receiving a school placement, and/or who have discontinued attending school.
IV. School Discipline
The Office of Student Discipline and Behavior Support is a team within the Office of Student Support and Attendance at the Orleans Parish School Board. The Office of Student Discipline and Behavior Support is a city-wide unified student discipline system comprehensively serving over 40,000 New Orleans students. Some functions of The Office of Student Discipline and Behavior Support include: The Office of Student Discipline and Behavior Support policies align with those of the Offices of Student Enrollment and Student Support and Attendance to ensure continuity between discipline, enrollment, and student-based services. The Office of Student Enrollment Services manages the hardship transfer process.
Contact Information
Phone: 504-218-5386 Email: yocinfo@nolapublicschools.com
Location: 2405 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
