Family Academic Support Team

A Team Committed to Your Student’s Success

When students are in crisis or are experiencing academic, family, or social challenges, they struggle to fully engage in their education. To meet the variety of needs that can conflict with student success, Ohio Digital Learning School (ODLS) has created the Family Academic Support Team (FAST).

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What is the team’s purpose?

The purpose of FAST is to eliminate the barriers and risk factors that make students vulnerable to falling behind in classes, failing classes, or dropping out.

With an ongoing responsibility to build relationships outside of the school, the team advocates for local and national resources to give students access to necessary social services. The goal is to build within the school an infrastructure of support, before needs arise, for anything that may jeopardize a student’s education, such as medical challenges, domestic issues, legal trouble, or even computer and internet problems.

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What does the team do?

As a school-based team, FAST:

• Fosters caring, sustained relationships among team members, Learning Coaches, and students
• Offers support to teachers, students, and families to improve retention, attendance, and academic outcomes
• Provides tools and support for students and their Learning Coaches who may be struggling to remain engaged and successful in online schooling, giving teachers more time to focus on teaching
• Partners with the local community to provide resources that support student and family development

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How can I connect with the team?

Through the Social and Emotional Learning program, teachers trained in identifying student hardship refer those in need of additional help to FAST. The team then works with students and families, offering guidance and support as needed, and connecting them with additional support resources.