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Student Access and Achievement

The Student Access and Achievement Program supports various school-based acceleration and enrichment programs offered during the school day, after school hours, and beyond the school year.

Overview

The goal of Student Access and Achievement is to provide students with support to achieve the high academic standards of the Howard County Public School System. Student Access and Achievement is composed of several programs.

Community Partnerships

The staff of the Office of Student Access and Achievement collaborates closely with various community groups and organizations. View a listing of select community partners.

Acceleration Pathways and Supports

Extended Day

  • BSAP Community Based Learning Centers (Elementary)
  • Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement Program (MESA)

Extended Week

  • BSAP Saturday Mathematics Academy

Extended Year

  • BSAP Programs (Elementary and Secondary)
  • Summer Institute (Elementary and Secondary)

Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP)

The Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) seeks to close achievement gaps for African American students and ensure students are college and career ready at the time of graduation.

BSAP Achievement Liaisons assist Elementary and Secondary students with meeting identified educational, career, personal, and social competencies.

Learn more about specific supports →

Contacts

Hispanic Achievement Program

The Hispanic Achievement Program works collaboratively with central programs and schools to achieve the school system’s goals for Hispanic students, and ensure they are college and career ready at the time of graduation.

The program provides professional development for staff, facilitates the engagement of Hispanic families, develops leadership skills among Hispanic youth, and partners with community agencies.

Gaston Gamez, Hispanic Achievement Supervisor, 410-313-6667

Read a staff focus story on Vanessa Morales, Hispanic Achievement Liaison, Reservoir High School

Hispanic Achievement Liaisons

The Hispanic Achievement Liaisons are assigned to one or more specific schools. Under the guidance of the Hispanic Achievement Specialist, they collaborate with students, staff, families, and community members to accelerate the academic achievement of all Hispanic students.

Responsibilities

  • Support Hispanic students and their families in the Howard County Public School System
  • Serve as a communication link between school staff and Hispanic students, and their families
  • Monitor the progress of all Hispanic students, in collaboration with school staff, to ensure their placement in appropriate programs, in order to accelerate their academic achievement
  • Monitor the behavioral data of all Hispanic students, in collaboration with school staff, in order to increase positive learning behaviors and ensure student achievement
  • Educate the school community towards a deeper understanding of Hispanic students and their families
  • Facilitate the involvement of Hispanic families in the educational process
  • Collaborate with non-profits and government agencies to support Hispanic students and their families
  • Interpret and do short translations as needed
  • Conduct Parent Information Meetings in collaboration with Special Education and Student Services and curricular programs such as the beyond school day and year programs, Title I program, and GT program.

School Assignments

Elementary Schools

  • Bollman Bridge – Tatiana Pham
  • Cradlerock – Elizabeth Perez Burns
  • Deep Run – Lixa Rodriguez-Ramon
  • Ducketts Lane – Elcy Seminara
  • Forest Ridge – Paola Loarca Estrada
  • Gorman Crossing – Martha Altamar
  • Hanover Hills – Griselda Osorio
  • Laurel Woods – Lourdes Corrigan
  • Longfellow – Sandra Cusick
  • Phelps Luck – Ana García-Hedges
  • Talbott Springs – Arlette Garcia

Middle Schools

  • Bonnie Branch – Yadira Bendezu
  • Harper’s Choice – Lorena Palmer
  • Lake Elkhorn – Elizabeth Perez Burns
  • Mayfield Woods – Melissa Barney Montoya
  • Murray Hill – Cecilia Ituarte Gonzalez
  • Oakland Mills – Teresa Norman
  • Patapsco – Ashley Anderson
  • Patuxent Valley – Danializ Arbelo
  • Thomas Viaduct – Minerva Contreras

High Schools

  • Guilford Park – Evelyn Chaverini
  • Hammond – Elliot Quinteros-Valdes
  • Long Reach – Juan Cruz Gomez
  • Mt. Hebron – Vacancy
  • Oakland Mills – Jose de la Mar
  • Reservoir – Jonathan Montalvo Roman
  • Wilde Lake – Vanessa Morales

Special Schools

  • Innovative Pathways/Homewood Center – Isabel Orris

Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement Program (MESA)

MESA is a structured, afterschool, pre-college program that prepares students for academic and professional careers in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology and is in partnership with The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Maryland MESA Program. Visit Maryland Mesa.

Program Goals

A primary focus of MESA is to introduce students to the Engineering Design Process, which is a foundational concept outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards. MESA nurtures and fosters crucial skills that are in high demand to support new and rapidly evolving industries, some of which have not been created. Those skills include:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Agility
  • Adaptability
  • Initiative
  • Entrepreneurialism
  • Effective Oral & Written Communication
  • Accessing and Analyzing Information
  • Teamwork & Collaboration
  • Curiosity
  • Imagination

MESA is designed to:

Increase the number of engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and related professionals at technical and management levels.

Encourage and assist minorities and females in achieving success in these fields.

MESA Participating Schools:

Elementary Schools

  • Bryant Woods
  • Cradlerock
  • Deep Run
  • Elkridge
  • Hanover Hills
  • Longfellow
  • St. Johns Lane
  • Stevens Forest

Middle Schools

  • Bonnie Branch
  • Folly Quarter
  • Lake Elkhorn
  • Patapsco
  • Thomas Viaduct
  • Wilde Lake

High Schools

  • Atholton
  • Guilford Park
  • Long Reach
  • Mt. Hebron
  • Reservoir
  • River Hill

Contact:

  • MESA Specialist, Raymond Lucas (410) 313-5691
  • Student Access & Achievement Coordinator, Sheree Tilley (410) 313-6804

Alpha Achievers

Targeting African American males in grades 9 – 12, the Alpha Achievers program is an education program of the Howard County, Maryland Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The program fosters a positive learning environment to facilitate students’ pursuit of excellence, helping them attain, maintain and exceed a 3.0 grade point average. It also promotes character growth, develops leadership skills, and critical thinking, and encourages its members to become full citizens of the school and the community. Current membership spans Howard County’s thirteen high schools, and there are 250-400 members each academic year.

Services and resources available to Alpha Achievers:

Contact: Anthone Bond, Alpha Achievers Countywide Advisor

Scholars Leadership Program

The Scholars Leadership Program, in partnership with The Columbia (MD) Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated is designed to set a standard of culture, class, and confidence in the setting of all thirteen HCPSS high schools. The honors program was formed in 2008 as the result of a partnership between Oakland Mills High School and the Columbia (MD) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The overall goal of the Scholars Leadership Program is to promote continued academic excellence in young ladies, who must earn at least a 3.0 gpa or higher, and provide mentoring support through the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Services and resources available to Scholars:

Contact: Nicole Brown, BSAP Supervisor, 410.313.6771
Shereé Tilley, Coordinator of Student Access and Achievement, 410.313.6804

Multilingual Family Services (MFS)

Multilingual Family Services (MFS) utilizes various methods to connect with multilingual students and families to ensure they are engaged and supported as partners in their children’s education. MFS staff promote communication that is accessible, meaningful, clear and timely between families and educators, and ensure equitable access to information and resources provided by the school system.

By offering language access and supports to help families better understand school system communications, MFS enhances the capacity of multilingual families to enter and actively engage in the vibrant school system community.

Learn more about specific MFS supports.

Contact: Min Woo, Multilingual Family Services Supervisor 410-313-1294

Language Access Services

Language Access Services are provided through the HCPSS Office of Student Access and Achievement to help bridge the communication between the school system and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals. These services provide families that speak languages other than English with reasonable access to the same opportunities as English-speaking families.

Services help multilingual families to be better engaged and supported as partners in their child’s education. HCPSS staff facilitate communication between families and educators, and ensure equitable access to information and resources provided by the school system.

Families can request interpreting (oral) and translation (written) services in multiple languages. HCPSS contracts with and trains interpreters who represent the most commonly spoken languages among HCPSS families.

Learn more about specific Language Access supports.

Contact:
Jennifer Williams
Language Access Supervisor
410-313-7102

Angela Lamas Martin
Student Access and Achievement Technical Assistant
410-312-1293

Email: interpretingservices@hcpss.org