Communities & Schools reports surge in tiered student supports, urges more volunteers

Cheryl Vincent, a longtime partner with the district’s Communities & Schools program, presented the group’s FY24–25 impact report to the Dougherty County Board of Education on May 21, saying preliminary figures show marked growth in student supports.

"As of about 10:30 last night, we show 8,483 total tier‑2 and tier‑3 supports," Vincent said, adding that number nearly doubled the previous year’s total. She described tier‑2 services as small‑group interventions and tier‑3 as one‑on‑one case management, which can include referrals for mental‑health services, basic‑needs assistance and parental supports.

The report headline metrics released to the board included roughly 5,800 total support hours systemwide, 4,482 formal check‑ins, 293 school supports and large distributions of basic‑needs items for families. Vincent said 74% of chronically absent students improved attendance, 82% of students with behavioral challenges showed fewer suspensions, and systemwide promotion rates were 99% in the year covered by the report.

Board members pressed for clarification. "Tier two may be small groups and tier three is one‑on‑one case management," Vincent reiterated in response to Miss Heath’s question, noting tiered supports can also include mentorship and homework assistance.

Vincent and board members identified volunteer recruitment and funding for family incentives as major constraints. "Volunteer hours is one of the biggest things because our site coordinators are only one person," Vincent said, describing the need for vetted adults to mentor and tutor students. She invited interested community members to contact her office about background‑checked volunteer opportunities.

Why it matters: The district is expanding non‑academic supports intended to remove barriers to learning. Board members said the evidence of improved attendance and reduced suspensions was persuasive, but asked for updated, final numbers after June 30 when the fiscal year closes and full data are available.

The board did not take action on the report but thanked Communities & Schools for the briefing and scheduled further review of the full impact report when final FY25 data are posted.