Schools/Districts

ARP ESSER Funds – In March 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act into law. This act includes the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, which allocates $126 billion for K–12 schools. Funds are allocated to each state in the same proportion as their Title I, Part A grants. The fund does have restrictions on when it can be allocated and spent, in some cases it can be used to cover expenses into the school year 2025. So, while this funding is immediate and in process, it is also substantial in both dollar amount and time of impact.

Using ARP ESSER Funding – Districts have the flexibility to use the ESSER funds on any “activity authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,” including assessments, instructional/program materials, software, hardware, professional development, connectivity, teacher pay, and summer school activities through school year 2024. ARP ESSER included funding set-asides at both the state and district level to mitigate learning loss. Additionally, the ARP ESSER requires that a local education authority (LEA) must reserve at least 20% of funds to address learning loss through implementing evidence-based interventions. These programs must respond to students’ academic, social and emotional needs, and they must address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underrepresented student subgroups.

How to Receive Funding – Each school district must apply to its state’s SEA (State Education Authority — the Department of Education or Office of Public Instruction) to receive its funding. You can see the funding your state received, here: ARP ESSER state allocations. Each SEA has its own process, it is imperative that interested districts/educators continue to monitor their state’s SEA for information on the steps needed to take to receive funding.

Teen Outreach Program® (TOP®) – Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) promotes the positive development of adolescents through curriculum-guided, interactive group discussions; positive adult guidance and support; and community service learning. TOP is delivered by trained adult facilitators one time per week across a school year, for at least 45 minutes per week to groups of students called “TOP Clubs”. TOP is designed to meet the developmental needs of middle and high school students and can be implemented in both in-school and after-school models. The TOP Curriculum is focused on key topics related to adolescent health and development, including building social, emotional, and life skills; developing a positive sense of self; and connecting with others. Wyman’s TOP is recognized as a CASEL SELect Program. TOP is uniquely positioned to help students bolster their social emotional skills as they return to in-school instruction after the learning disruption caused/continuing to be caused by COVID-19. Additionally, TOP can help students feel a sense of belonging and connectedness to their peers and educators. TOP has been implemented successfully with diverse communities and in both urban and rural environments across the United States. Independent research reviews by federal agencies and organizations have recognized TOP for its evidence-base.

Teen Connection Project® (TCP®) – Wyman’s Teen Connection Project (TCP) is an innovative, evidence-based program that builds social connections among high school age students. A major key idea underlying the program is that for secondary school students, the experience of establishing supportive relationships with peers will be one of the best teachers of social and emotional skills. At a time when students have been both physically and emotionally disconnected from one another and their schools throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, TCP is a semester-long offering that can re-engage young people. TCP is facilitated by two trained facilitators, meeting with students once per week in 45 to 60 minute sessions, over the course of a semester. The 12 lessons in the TCP Curriculum build progressively and strengthen the connections in the group through team building, activities and conversations. TCP is designed to meet the developmental needs of high school students and can be implemented in both in-school and after-school models. Wyman’s TCP is recognized as a CASEL SELect Program.

Wyman employs a comprehensive relationship-based replication partnership approach. When organizations partner with Wyman to replicate TOP or TCP in their own communities, they experience extensive program training and start-up support, periodic program reviews and audits, access to a proprietary data collection and monitoring system, and on-going technical assistance by Wyman staff to ensure each partner is experiencing a high-quality implementation of the program.

Wyman works with schools and districts of varying size, and offers multiple approaches to replication. Please contact us today to determine which replication model will best meet your implementation goals.

Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) promotes the positive development of adolescents through curriculum-guided, interactive group discussions; positive adult guidance and support; and community service learning.

• TOP is delivered by trained adult facilitators across a nine month period to groups of students called “TOP Clubs”.
• TOP is designed to meet the developmental needs of middle and high school students and can be implemented in both in-school and after-school models.
• The TOP Curriculum is focused on key topics related to adolescent health and development, including building social, emotional, and life skills; developing a positive sense of self; and connecting with others.
• Wyman’s TOP is recognized as a CASEL SELect Program.

Wyman’s Teen Connection Project (TCP) is an innovative, evidence-based program that builds social connections among high school age students. A major key idea underlying the program is that for secondary school students, the experience of establishing supportive relationships with peers will be one of the best teachers of social and emotional skills.

• The program is facilitated by two trained facilitators, meeting with students once per week in 45 to 60 minute sessions.
• The 12 lessons in the TCP Curriculum build progressively and strengthen the connections in the group through team building, activities and conversations.
• TCP is designed to meet the developmental needs of high school students and can be implemented in both in-school and after-school models.
• Wyman’s TCP is recognized as a CASEL Promising Program.

SEL skills are necessary for everything we do, from managing our emotions to forming healthy relationships. This half-day training introduces the concept of SEL and the importance of supporting SEL development through intentional staff practices and program design. Participants will learn why SEL skill practice is especially important during adolescence and how to support youth towards the successful transition to adulthood.

Ideal for: Teachers, Direct Service Staff, Administrators

In this half-day training, participants will take a deeper dive into the major principles of PYD and explore how PYD supports the needs of adolescents, and critically weaves into social and emotional learning development. This session will also discuss how to empower teens to take active roles in their own healthy functioning.

Ideal for: Teachers, Direct Service Staff, Administrators, Parents

This training is a full day of SEL! The day begins by building a solid foundation of understanding, exploring the key components of SEL, the benefits of SEL, and an overview of SEL topics. The second half of the day focuses on techniques for facilitation, practices for integrating SEL into the classroom and an introduction to assessment tools available for staff & administrators.

Ideal for: Teachers, Direct Service Staff, Administrators

This two-day training is inclusive of the SEL Institute content with the addition of ample time for trainer-led planning sessions focused on how participants can begin to mobilize training ideas and tools in their classrooms and schools.

Ideal for: Teachers, Direct Service Staff, Administrators

All SEL trainings can be delivered virtually or in a COVID safe, in-person environment. It is highly recommended if planning a virtual experience that the content be arranged and delivered in 2 to 3 hour sessions over the course of multiple professional development days to ensure maximum participant engagement & retention.

If you are interested in accessing a specific training, would like to discuss a solution for your specific needs or would like to receive a quote, please reach out to Tori Gale.