Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the center?
   The Bridge Center is a short-term, temporary intervention, which will provide identified students who are at-risk for academic failure with supports and services to facilitate a successful transition to their home school.
   
   
2. How many students will be at the center?
   At any given time the Bridge Center will support 70 students form the Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast middle and high schools.
   
   
3. How long will students stay at the center?
   Students may attend from one to three weeks.
   
   
4. What supports will be in place as the students return to their home schools?
   Student Support Plans for identified needs (such as academic, behavioral, health, and/or therapeutic needs) will be developed at the Bridge Center and implemented at the student’s home school. Support staff (itinerant teachers, social workers, and pupil personnel workers) will provide assistance to students at the Bridge Center as well as at their home schools. They will monitor the progress of the student and support the student and home school staff during the transition.
   
   
5. What is the anticipated outcome/goal for students that have attended the center?
   The anticipated outcome/goal for students that come through the Bridge Center is successful transition to a comprehensive setting or an alternative school.
   
   
6. How will the school system evaluate the effectiveness of the Bridge Center?
   A process and outcome evaluation tool will be used to measure success. Data points (i.e. length of time needed before transition, classroom adjustment, report card grades, behavioral referrals, exit surveys) will be used as indicators of success.
   
   
7. When does the school day start? How long is the school day?
   The school hours are from 7:45 – 2:15. Students will arrive at 7:45 and go directly to their homeroom. Homeroom is scheduled from 7:50-8:05 during which time breakfast will be served.
   
   
8. How long are classes? How many classes will students attend each day?
   Classes are 77 minutes long. Each day students will attend three academic classes (English, Math, and Reading) and one skills class. Skills classes include Drug Education, Personal Development, Social Skills, Study Skills, and Technology on a rotating basis. A 30-minute lunch period is included within the school day.
   
   
9. What type of weekly schedule will students follow at the Bridge Center?
   The Bridge Center operates on an A, B, C, D, E schedule. This is to allow the students an opportunity to have a different skills class each day. The academic classes will remain consistent each day.
   
   
10. What is the dress policy at the Bridge Center?
    The Bridge Center will follow the BCPS guidelines for student dress policy as outlined in the Student Behavior Handbook. The handbook states that all students have the responsibility to “dress correctly to help set the proper standard of school and social behavior. Students’ dress should not cause a safety or health hazard, get in the way of their or other students’ education, or be considered obscene”.
    
    
11. Does the Bridge Center have a cafeteria?
    The Bridge Center does not have a cafeteria. Satellite meals will be delivered to the Bridge Center. Breakfast and lunch will be served daily and will be delivered directly to the classrooms.
    
    
12. Does the Bridge Center have a computer lab?
    The Bridge Center has two Dell computer labs (one middle school lab and one high school lab). Computers in both labs have access to the Internet and may be used by students and teachers as part of the educational program offered at the Bridge Center.