The Service Tree lists all services in "branched" groups, starting with the very general and moving to the very specific. Click on the name of any group name to see the sub-groups available within it. Click on a service code to see its details and the providers who offer that service.
Educational Support Services
Educational partnerships between community organizations (e.g., businesses, civic groups or professional organizations) and local schools that provide a means of expanding learning opportunities available to children and youth. The local organization "adopts" a particular school and undertakes educational projects in conjunction with teaching staff. Activities are designed to meet the needs of the individual school and may include mentoring, lectures or demonstrations, sponsorship of after school projects and field trips, donations of equipment and supplies, incentive awards for academic achievement and opportunities for students to gain experience in a particular business or industry.
Programs within the formal education system or offered by outside agencies which utilize a variety of instruments to gather information about an individual's abilities, skills, understanding, knowledge, achievement, or educational, psychological or medical difficulties for the purpose of screening and selecting individuals for admission to an educational institution or program or for developing a plan of individualized instruction to help students who have exceptional needs overcome their learning problems.
Programs that provide advice and guidance for students who need assistance in choosing courses or areas for major study, preparing for a vocation or further education, or coping with learning problems, or who, because of lack of familiarity with the U.S. or other circumstances, require specialized support.
Instructional Support Services
Programs that provide support for school personnel in the form of training workshops, study groups, demonstration lessons, mentoring, modeling of instruction, coaching and other similar types of assistance with the objective of enhancing the quality of teaching and improving learning outcomes. Included are technical assistance on the development, delivery and assessment of programs in specific content areas; information about best practices and current research; curriculum resources; instructional materials; assistance in analyzing student performance data; support in using technology tools to extend and support student learning; and other similar services.
Programs that enable students who demonstrate financial need to obtain the financial assistance they require to meet their educational and living expenses while in school. Most students receive a financial aid package which includes aid from a combination of sources that may include loans, scholarships, grants, work-study awards, and fellowships or assistantships for graduate students. Also included are programs that help current and former students make arrangements to defer, repay or obtain forgiveness for student loans.
Student Services and Campus Life
Offices and centers on elementary/secondary school and college/university campuses that are responsible for basic administrative services such as recruitment, admissions, registration and enrollment, and housing; support for students including health and mental health services, assistance for students with disabilities, meal services and transportation; access to an ombudsman for students with grievances; and involvement opportunities through fraternities, sororities, school clubs and student government. Some services such as school supplies may also be provided by outside organizations.
Programs that help prospective students study for major entrance examinations for colleges and universities, placement tests, examinations that are prerequisites for acceptance into graduate level programs, military entrance exams, civil service and other professional exams, citizenship tests and other standardized tests. The courses, which may be available via the Internet, usually focus on the content areas covered by the examination, the format of the specific test, and test-taking techniques that can be used to increase the individual's speed and confidence. Practice questions may be available as well as essay evaluation materials, where applicable.
Programs that make arrangements for the presence of individuals to supervise the administration of written examinations and performance tests to ensure that students and others who are taking exams have no assistance of any kind during the testing process and that other rules are followed. Proctors maintain the security of test materials; ensure that only authorized persons are admitted to examinations; distribute examination material; make sure candidates are marking their papers in an appropriate manner; ensure that examinees do not leave the examination room without authority and that no examination materials are taken from the room; maintain order and quiet in the examination room; gather and check examination material; and time, evaluate and record achievements of candidates on performance tests.
Programs that provide supplemental instruction for students who are having difficulty with their coursework or who want to get more out of their regular educational program.