McHenry County, IL
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Services
Evergreen Academy is a Regional Safe Schools Program as defined by the Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 10-22.6; designed to serve students in grades 6-12, ages 11-18. Students are typically referred to Evergreen Academy by member school districts for violations of school codes or repetitive offenses of school rules. Evergreen Academy provides a smaller environment that allows staff members to focus on individual student’s needs. Evergreen Academy has been consistently successful in providing interventions that have helped students achieve positive re-entries to their home school and graduate.
Contact Person
Scott Whipple - Principal
3917 Mercy Dr.
McHenry, IL 60050
Phone: 815-239-0001
Background
Legislation authorizing the creation of a system of Regional Safe Schools has presented a unique opportunity to the McHenry County community in the form of a regional program to preserve a safe learning environment for the county’s 50,000 students.
Philosophy
The Evergreen Academy Program is designed to:
- supplement existing comprehensive programs and services, not duplicate them;
- include a challenging academic program that has the flexibility address individual needs for academic remediation;
- address the therapeutic needs of the student client within a family context; and
- provide an opportunity for early intervention and re-entry to the home district.
Student Population
The student population to be served shall meet one or more of the following established criteria and be deemed appropriate for enrollment by local school officials in consultation with the RSSP Director and the Regional Superintendent:
- suspended at lease twice for a period of 4-10 days for gross misconduct as defined by the Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 10-22.6;
- recommended for expulsion by member school district administration to local school board; or
- involved in misconduct which demonstrates a long term, pattern which is severe, repetitive and/or cumulative and for which the district has exhausted its resources in unsuccessful remediation attempts.
- upon return from correctional custody;
- following an arrest for criminal acts directly related to school activities;
- as recommended for students remanded to the juvenile or criminal courts for acts directly related to school activities.
Desired Outcomes
The desired outcomes of the RSSP include but are not limited to:
- an increase in the level of safety for the student body in the school from which the RSSP student is administratively transferred;
- a decrease in the incidence of classroom and general disruption in the school from which the student is administratively transferred;
- attainment of individual self-management goals as outlined in the IAEP and compliance with the RSSP Disciplinary Policy;
- attainment of therapeutic goals as set within the IAEP; and
- attainment of passing grades in all mandated curricular areas as noted in the IAEP.
Clinical Services
Based on identified student therapeutic needs, services will be provided in the following areas:
- Social Skills
- Anger management
- Conflict Resolution
- Alcohol/Substance Abuse Avoidance
- Self-esteem
Identified student needs will be addressed in a family context. Once a month the student’s school day will include two hours of required community service and a parent/family activity to follow.
Curriculum
- Open entry and open exit flexibility.
- Presence of all mandated curricular areas.
- High interest materials.
- Computer assisted delivery of K-12 software developed by the Computer Curriculum Consortium.
Intake Meeting