1. Peer to Peer Support – LINK II Zero/7th Hour High School Option
START Leadership Day
May 2, 2017
Review updated map and indicate it can be found on the website, if needed.

2. What is the Zero/7th Hour Peer to Peer Option – LINK II?
Peer to Peer Students Schedule for a Zero/7th Hour Class
Peer to Peer (LINK II) Student Supports a Student with ASD in a Content Class While Taking the Class for Credit
LINK II Student Attends Case Conferences Scheduled for the Student with ASD
LINK II Student Completes On-Line Curriculum for Peer to Peer Support Programs
LINK II Student Completes Any Other Requirements Mandated by Local School District

3. What is the Zero/7th Hour Peer to Peer Option – LINK II?
LINK II Student also Supports the Student with ASD Outside of the School Day between 15 – 25 Hours a Semester
LINK II Student Receives an Additional ½ or ¼ Credit for Participation in Class
Purple Determined by Local School District

4. Districts Currently Piloting the LINK II Option
Eastern Upper Peninsula – 2014 – Present
Okemos Public Schools – 2016
Clarkston Community Schools – Since 1992

5. Zero/7th Hour Peer to Peer (LINK II) Requirements
Peer to Peer Support (LINK I)Must Be Approved Through the K-12 Curriculum Council
Local District Control
Are other Zero/7th Hour Options Available in the District
Band
Chorus
Physical Education
If yes, follow the procedure used with other Zero/7th Hour Options
If no, ask administration if they would be interested in a Zero/7th Hour Peer to Peer (LINK II) Option

6. Zero/7th Hour Peer to Peer (LINK II) Requirements
Teacher of Record Assigned
Attendance
Grading
Organization of On-Line Peer to Peer Support Curriculum
Case Conferences
Support the Organization of Out of School Opportunities

7. Contact Your School District if Interested In Developing a Zero/7th Hour Peer to Peer (LINK II) Class

8. LINKS 2 OKEMOS HIGH SCHOOL
PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL DAY

9. WHY DO WE DO IT? Promote more authentic social interactions
Provide opportunities to engage in community experiences
Real-world use of independence and socialization skills
Allow LINKS and peers on the spectrum to interact in varied settings

10. HOW DID WE GET IT STARTED?
New course proposal – included the reminder that MDE eliminated “seat time” as a requirement to earn credit
School board approval
Added to master schedule – listed as a 7th hour (doesn’t count towards attendance/count day)
School announcements, spoke at scheduling meeting, inform current LINKS
Must have taken LINKS 1 or have teacher approval

11. WHAT ARE THE CLASS COMPONENTS?
Parental permission slip
Parent/student info sheet
Pre and Post outing write-ups
10 hours of contact time over the semester
Required readings – one per week

12. HOW’S IT GOING SO FAR? Had 5 LINKS 2 students enrolled this year.
4/5 completed all of their outing hours with their peer
4/5 completed the required reading log
Next year we have LINKS 2 students enrolled
Parent Feedback: Other than LINKS, child rarely spends time with other peers outside of the school day. All are happy with how outing plans have been communicated, Student reports are neutral or positive, social behaviors appear to be improved.
Student Feedback: I rarely spend time with other peers outside of the school day, overall my outings have been positive, how outing plans have been communicated have been positive. I go on outings to socialize with peers, work on independence, try things I otherwise wouldn’t try and sometimes because I was told I had to. 