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Orientation/ Registration FAQ
1. If students complete a Registration Form, should they be entered in ABLELink knowing they won't count for the federal report?
Answer: How is it known that these will not count? As long as the students attend the program for at least 12 hours, they will count as enrolled. All students that complete orientation however, regardless of whether or not they have attained the 12 hour mark, must be entered into ABLELink. Even if the federal report does not require us to count participation below the 12-hour mark, this is important information for programs, the ODE ABLE Office, and policy makers. Students who do not complete the orientation session should not be entered into ABLELink.
2. If some programs are already running "model" intake and orientation processes, where are the ones who would welcome observers?
Answer: The state leadership team will identify and compile some model practices and disseminate them to the field.
3. How long should student orientation be?
Answer: Long enough to adequately accomplish its purpose within the Student Experience Model. This is a local decision. The O-PAS Manual can provide you with some recommendations.
4. How can I give 5 to 6 hours on ESOL orientation?
Answer: It may need to be abbreviated. The State Leadership Network will develop models.
5. Can we have pictures, posters and graphics for orientation?
Answer: Yes, such visuals might assist ESOL orientation. The State Leadership Network will develop models.
6. Will intake, goal setting, and orientation apply to ESOL students?
Answer: Yes they will.
7. Do orientation staff have to be trained specifically?
Answer: Quite possibly. Local programs will need to determine whether or not assigned staff have the qualifications to lead students through the orientation process. If staff do not possess all the skills needed, training should be sought. This is one area that could be written into the Individual and Program Professional Development Plans for FY 2001.
8. If a student comes to the program only once for orientation, does he/she need to be entered into ABLELink?
Answer: No, only if the student completes orientation.
9. What If a student comes for orientation and testing but then leaves? Do we enter him/her into ABLELink?
Answer: If the student completes the orientation process, they should be entered into ABLELink.
10. What type of orientation should be given for special needs learners?
Answer: Orientation should be geared to the population and agency services. Programs may want to contact other "similar" programs to share ideas.
11. To do orientation, where are we going to find people who are familiar with ABLE intake, assessment, and goal setting?
Answer: You will have to develop a training program for these intake persons or perhaps collaborate with other ABLE programs in your area to jointly develop a holistic training program. PD will also be made available to programs in FY 2001 to support this need through the State ABLE Resource Network.
12. Will there be professional development on orientation?
Answer: Yes. The resource centers are currently developing such activities.
13. Is there an advantage to do intake as a group structured activity?
Answer: Yes. Since orientation is now much more structured, it would be difficult to offer a generic activity with each student who walks into your classrooms on any particular day.
14. What do we tell a student whose goal of earning a GED is not realistic?
Answer: Encourage the student to set shorter attainable goals first. If the student is indeed unable to attain the GED within a program year, at least he/she will have some successes under his/her belt toward meeting that long-term goal. The O-PAS Manual provides suggestions and forms for goal setting.
15. Does orientation have to last for 12 hours?
Answer: No. The student has to receive at least 12 hours of service to be enrolled; however, these hours do not have to be obtained within the orientation.
16. What do we do with higher level students who complete orientation and pass the GED with flying colors, yet still have not accumulated 12 hours?
Answer: The bottom line is that the student must have attained 12 hours to be enrolled for ABLE purposes. The orientation and the Official GED Practice test can both count as "service time." You might want to consider developing a separate GED Test Skills Workshop to compensate for the missing hours. Such a workshop would also be very beneficial to the student. There may be other services you provide of value to your students related to further education, employment, etc.
17. Can staff enter information into ABLELink on-site during orientation?
Answer: Yes, as long as your site has the hardware and software to do it.
This Orientation/Registration FAQ was last updated on July 27, 2000
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