Federal law requires that all young people attend school full time until age 16. Howver, if they decide to drop out of school, a young person must complete the school year in which they turn 16. You have the right to a free education until the age of 21.
To attend school, according to NYS law, you must have the following immunizations: 3 DPTs, 3 oral polios, 2 live vaccines given after the first birthday for measles, German measles, and mumps. Many schools also require a tuberculosis PPD test.
FREE IMMUNIZATIONS
Pomona Health Complex 364-3520
(Bldg. A) (ask for Immunization Clinic)
Sanatorium Rd., Pomona
Hours: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Fridays (Call for appointment)
All districts are under the New York State Education Law which defines mandated educational requirements. Individual districts vary in the specific programs and courses they offer to meet or supplement mandated ones.
PARENT/TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS (PTAs) are a means of communication between home and school. They maintain mail boxes in the school offices. It is important for parents to be in touch with their children's school. Youth service workers should urge them to attend teacher/parent nights and to ask about special programs (career exploration, life skills, job placement, vocational education, remediation, after-school enrichment, advanced placement, etc.) so that they can discuss options with their children. They should be encouraged to carefully read the notices that come from the school.
Youth service workers should ask to be on mailing lists from the schools so that they also know what kinds of programs are available.
It is accepted that free compulsory education is an essential ingredient in preparing youth to assume a responsible position in society. It is incumbent on the community to see that the schools perform that function.
Youth advocates as well as parents should have input into school policy deliberations regarding program priorities.
ROCKLAND COUNTY ENROLLMENT
Clarkstown Central 8,545
30 Parrott Rd., W. Nyack 10994
639-6300
East Ramapo Central 8,965
105 S. Madison Ave., Spring Valley 10977
577-6000
Nanuet Union Free 1,750
101 Church St., Nanuet 10954
623-1430
Haverstraw-Stony Point Central 7,424
65 Chapel St., Garnerville 10965
942-3000
Nyack Public Schools 2,985
13A Dickinson Ave., Nyack 10960
353-7000
Pearl River Union Free 1,996
275 E. Central Ave., Pearl River 10965
620-3900
Ramapo Central 3,955
Mountain Ave., Hillburn 10931
357-7783
South Orangetown Central 2,517
Van Wyck Rd., Blauvelt 10913
365-4200
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, available in all secondary schools, are meant to be the focal point of a student's personal guidance and counseling. Unfortunately, guidance counselors usually have such heavy caseloads they spend most of their time advising students concerning academic progress. Little or no time is left for listening to a student's personal problems.
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS in each district are clinically trained and are available for testing and some counseling.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNSELORS represent a bridge between guidance and the school psychologist. Their counseling style is low-key; they are especially attuned to problems common to adolescents: peer pressure, drug and alcohol use, family conflicts, etc.
School community counselors are available in all school districts.
STUDENT ADVOCACY, INC.
10 South Broadway, Nyack 10960
Contact: Kay Frank 358-3803
Direct advocacy, information and technical assistance re-educational rights and entitlements for ages 3 - 21. Organization offers school districts educational speakers who are also available for PTAs and SEPTA's. Legal representation at superintendent's hearings. Bilingual services.
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (BOCES) 623-3828
Parrott Rd., W. Nyack 10994
District Supt.: A. Glen Everhart
BOCES was established by law in 1948 to provide a means for local school districts to share resources and to provide educational services on a cooperative basis. BOCES' role is to respond to district needs and requests and to act as the organizing, administrative agent to answer those needs. It has a nine-member board. BOCES is funded through school tax revenues and the NYS Dept. of Education.
The 3-pronged organization of BOCES, has basically three separate administrative units with distinct responsibilities.
1. SPECIAL EDUCATION
Director: Eileen McCarthy
This unit maintains three self-contained schools for RC children who have special needs:
JESSE KAPLAN SCHOOL (on BOCES grounds in W. Nyack) serves mentally and physically retarded.
LINCOLN SCHOOL (in Pearl River) for emotionally handicapped at elementary level.
CHESTNUT GROVE SCHOOL (in New City) for severely, emotionally handicapped, grades K-8.
The unit also provides instructional services to special education classes within districts.
2. ROCKLAND TECH CENTER (OCCUPATIONAL EDUCTION)
Director: Mary Lou Shedler
This unit offers occupational training in fields such as auto mechanics, carpentry, business, computer repair, cosmetology, nursing, etc. for both high school students as part of their regular high school program and for adults in evening programs. BOCES high school programs are now housed in the old Nyack High School. The facility is known as the "BOCES Educational Resource Center".
There is a separate Basic Occupational Education Program which provides vocational education to the disabled secondary level students who are recommended by their Committee for Special Education (CSE) geared to their achievement potential.
3. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
Director: Joseph Gibson
A variety of supplemental services are available to local school districts including educational media services such as a film and video library, audio-visual repairs, microcomputer and television repairs, microfilming, special curriculum resources, staff development opportunities and adult education resources.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
HEBREW DAY SCHOOLS
GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA (GED) 942-3318
If an individual has dropped out of school and now wishes to try for a diploma, it's possible. General Equivalency tests are given periodically. A GED is recognized by most colleges and employers as the same as a regular HS diploma. The required test consists of math, English, reading and writing skills, science and social studies. To take the test, an individual must be 19, or if younger, you must have been out of school at least a year, or a member of a class that has already been graduated.
If interested, get an application at a local high school. Fill it out, include a $25 money order and send it to:
State Education Dept.
High School Equivalency Testing Program
P.O. Box 7348
Albany, N.Y. 12224-0348
Tests are given on Fridays and Saturdays at regular intervals during the year. You must apply to take the test at least 6 weeks prior to the test.
Courses are offered to prepare for the exam from October through May, open to all county youth, at no charge. Classes are Tuesday and Thursday, 7-10 p.m. and new students may join the first Tuesday of any month. Call 942-3318 for further information.
Check your local high schools to see if they have GED preparation. Nyack Literacy Cooperative (353-7030) and BOCES (623-3828) also offer GED preparation.
You can attend colllege and earn your GED after completing 24 credit hours. Call local colleges for details.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
State education and federal employment legislation has responded to the recognition that proficiency in English is very important for skillful operation in the workaday world and provides grants monies to meet the problem.
Inquire from the following about current ESL programs:
For foreign-born adults over 16 years, the New City Library is the training center for LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF ROCKLAND. Call Janet Anderson, Executive Director at 634-4997.
REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 352-6030
49 S. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Free English classes for refugees.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (EOP) (SUNY) is for students who are economically disadvantaged and/or educationally disadvantaged. It is an academically-oriented program available on SUNY campuses (including RCC) which offers counseling, tutorial aid, and financial assistance. Contact: Maureen Brown-beard (RCC) 574-4761
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS (EOC) (SUNY) are vocationally oriented. The closest center is at 41 Main St., Yonkers 10701 (968-1802).
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (HEOP) is similar to EOP, but is available to students who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged at independent college campuses in New York State (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Contact: Peggy Brady-Amoon (STAC) 398-4026
ADULT EDUCATION
Most school districts offer evening adult education courses in spring and fall. Courses are varied (academic, recreational, vocational). New courses are generally provided if sufficient numbers ask for them and instructors are available. Fees are low and most districts accept students from other areas for a slightly higher fee. Mailed brochures are available by calling the district.
BOCES offers adult courses in a variety of skills: auto mechanics, machine trades, data processing, etc. Some are at advanced levels. Fees are reasonable, but higher than local school adult education courses.
Vocational courses are offered at RCC for licensed practical nurse, business, industrial arts, auto mechanics, food services, tourism.
VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES (VESID)426-5210
15 Perlman Drive
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Contact: Jon Letscher
VESID determines if a person is eligible for vocational rehabilitation programs. VESID clients include youth who have "significant barriers to employment," whether they be physical, mental, emotional, or social. "Barriers" may include drug and alcohol abuse, learning disabilities, psychiatric problems, as well as physical and mental handicaps. A representative from VESID is on hand at Job Service in Spring Valley.
CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF ROCKLAND COUNTY 429-7085
East Kirkbrride Road, P.O. Box 1000
Thiells, NY 10984
Contact: Paul Trader
Educational programs including family financial management, care of home and grounds, remodeling and retrofitting, youth development including 4-H clubs, protecting natural resources and family interaction. Cost: Fees for some programs.
COLLEGE INFORMATION
Local school guidance departments have information on college programs, costs and financial aid. The reference sections of most libraries contain books that compare colleges, e.g. Barron's.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Rule of thumb: it is best to apply early. Guidance Departments in the high schools and financial aid offices at colleges are sources of information.
There are three basic kinds of aid:
The major grants offered by the US Dept. of Education are Pell and SEOG. To receive and continue to receive aid, a student must:
Potential students should be advised that more expensive schools are not necessarily out of reach. The amount of possible aid depends on various factors determined by an individual college's priorities and resources.
Unions and parents' places of employment sometimes have scholarship programs which can be checked. Foundations, religious organizations, civic groups, alma maters are additional possibilities.
ROCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE 574-4000
145 College Rd. (main campus), Suffern, NY 10901
24-hour admission information 574-4224
RCC, an affiliated unit of the State University of New York (SUNY), offers 2-year associate degrees. Satellite campuses are in Nyack, Spring Valley, Pearl River, Nanuet, Haverstraw and Thiells Cost: $85.50 per credit
EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE/SUNY 358-3990
21-23 N. Bdwy., Nyack, NY 10960
Non-traditional four-year college of SUNY. Individual degree programs worked out in response to student's needs, with credit for life experiences Cost: $87 per credit
DOMINICAN COLLEGE OF BLAUVELT 359-7800
470 Western Hwy., Orangeburg, NY 10962
Four-year independent liberal arts college offering BA and BS degrees. NYU offers graduate courses in Social Work. Cost: $259 per credit
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE (STAC) 359-9500
Rt. 340, Sparkill, NY 10976
Four-year independent liberal arts college offering BA and BS degrees. Cost: $260 per credit.
NYACK COLLEGE
South Blvd., Nyack, NY 10960-3689
Co-Ed, sponsored by the Christian and Missionary Alliance, offering Associate and Bachelor degrees in Arts and Sciences, including a Bachelor's degree in Music. Offers Master's degree in Professional Studies and Divinity. Cost: $330 per credit.
IONA COLLEGE 359-2252 (main campus across river)
One Dutch Hill Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962
Offers Master's degree in Bus. Admin. (MBA), Computer Science (MS), Educ. Computing (MS), School Admin. & Supervision (MSEd), and Education (MSEd), Telecommunications (MS), English (MA). Cost: $315-390 per credit.
Long Island University (LIU) 359-7200
Route 340, Orangeburg, NY 10962
Offers Master's degrees in Health and Public Administration, Business Administration and Education. Cost: $360 per credit.
New York University (NYU) School 359-6084
470 Western Highway, Orangeburg, NY 10962
Offers Master's degree in Social Work. Cost: $436 per credit.
COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE (CIEE) 212 661-1414
205 E. 42 St., New York, NY 10017
Develops and administers wide variety of study and work abroad programs and international work camps for US and international students at the secondary, undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.
COUNCIL TRAVEL SERVICE (CTS) provides budget traveler with different opportunities for travel abroad including the International Student ID card. The $16 fee for the 12-month card entitles one to special travel discounts for museums, hotels, car rentals, etc. and is available to high school and college students, youth (non students) 12 - 26, and teachers.
YOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING 1-800-833-6243 (International Student Exchange)
3501 Newark St., NW, 1-800-872-0200
Washington, DC 20016
Student exchange, offers some scholarships. Write for information or call 1-800-424-3691 for scholarship information.
THE EXPERIMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LIVING 1-800-345-2929
Kipling Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301
Summer Abroad Program, 3 - 5 weeks for high school students.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CAMPS518-457-3720
Rm. 505, 50 Wolf Rd., Albany 12233
Camps which promote an interest in environmental preservation for ages 12-14.
ROGERS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 607-674-4017
Run by NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
METROPOLITAN NY COUNCIL AMERICAN YOUTH HOSTELS, INC. 212-932-2300
891 Amsterdam Ave. (103rd St.) NYC
Simple, inexpensive facilities for travelers of all ages. If under 14, cannot use hostels outside own country without parent or guardian.
AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE 212-949-4242
313 E. 43 St., New York, NY 10017
Emphasis on learning the culture of the host country and on family and community living experiences.
ROCKLAND TEACHERS' CENTER 942-2513
65 Chapel St., Garnerville 10923
Contact: Peg Pawlyk
Resource center which offers courses and workshops and sponsors services such as Dial-A-Teacher/Dial-A-Friend, collaboration with arts, cultural, government and service organizations on countywide programs and conferences with emphasis on technology.