Student Support Services

Student Support Services DJJ

The mission of Student Support Services is to provide all students with academic, career, and social/emotional guidance and support to prepare them to be educated, productive, and fulfilled adults.

Student Support Services covers a variety of activities and procedures that are in place to support student success during and after attendance at Georgia Preparatory Academy (GPA). These include:

  1. Records Management
  2. School Counseling Services
  3. Response to Intervention
  4. Education Cool Off (ECO)
  5. Graduation
  6. Work Permit
  7. Driver's License

Education records are managed by records personnel located in each GPA school.  Public school records are requested within 72 hours of a new student admission to a GPA school. Student information is entered into and managed in the GPA Student Information System (Infinite Campus).  Withdrawals, transcripts and other academic records are provided upon request.

Professional school counselors are available in all GPA schools.  The GPA school counseling program implements the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Mindsets and Behaviors standards.  Academic advisement, transcript and schedule review, classroom guidance, college and career planning services, and test coordination are available to all GPA students.

Student Support Services is responsible for overseeing the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. MTSS is a comprehensive, multi-tiered approach designed to address students’ academic and behavioral needs through targeted interventions and supports. Within this framework, the Response to Intervention (RTI) process and Student Support Team (SST) meetings are implemented to monitor student progress, identify areas of need, and provide appropriate, data-driven interventions.

ECO (Education Cool Off) is an opportunity for students to redirect inappropriate behavior and complete assignments in a smaller classroom. It is designed to be a part of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) which is used throughout all DJJ/GPA campuses. ECO is not designed to isolate or confine students. It is an opportunity for the students to make a different choice after receiving support from staff. Once the student’s behavior has been redirected and assignments completed, he or she will be allowed to return to the classroom.

Georgia Preparatory Academy holds two graduations each year. Students receiving high school diplomas, GED diplomas and Technical Certificate of Credits are recognized during graduation.

Work permits are issued through Student Support Services for minors seeking employment.

Driver’s License enrollment verification for students in the community are issued through Student Support Services.