ANSWER:

After the presentation of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Recommended Operating Budget in December 2023, the team revisited the data to assess the impact of the 504 team. With two counseling specialists supporting 504s in FY 2023, the total number of school support touch points was 271. As of December 2023, with the addition of the 504 unit, the total number of school support touch points was 706 (see below).

Additionally, when looking at change over time, one can see the drastic decrease in section 504 cases which are out of compliance with federal regulations when comparing year-to-date of February in 2022 v. year-to-date in December to December 2023.

In effect, through the 504 unit’s direct service to schools, students, and families, school counselors are receiving more support, which is not only decreasing the district’s out of compliance numbers, but also allowing the counselors to spend more time providing direct academic and social emotional service to students.