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Student Support

988 Crisis Lifeline

Calling or texting 988 or chatting 988Lifeline.org will connect you to compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress.

Support for Students

If you have questions or concerns about your child's emotional well-being, please contact their school.

Students will continue to receive the support of their amazing teachers, principals, counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, community and parent liaisons and all Madison staff. 

Madison uses the RULER framework and approach strategies to support the school community by:

  • Understanding the value of emotions
  • Building the skills of emotional intelligence
  • Creating and maintaining positive school climates

RULER skill development relies on the four core tools:

  • Charter: Builds and sustains positive emotional climates by creating agreed-upon norms for how people want to feel and how they can help each other to experience those feelings.

  • Mood Meter: Enhances self and social awareness and supports the development of emotions vocabulary

  • Meta-Moment: Provides a process for responding to emotional situations that align with one’s best self and that support healthy relationships and personal well-being.

  • Blueprint: Supports the development of empathy and conflict resolution skills by serving as a guide for reflecting on conflict and restoring affected communities. 

PBIS/Positive Behavior is used to improve academic and behavioral outcomes, ensuring that all students have access to the most effective behavioral practices and interventions possible. Visit each school's website to learn more about their PBIS Program.

Student Strengths Screener

Madison uses an eight question screening assessment called DESSA-mini to assess students' strengths. Students will be screened three times a year by their teacher using the DESSA-mini.The full DESSA (a 40-question assessment), will be given to students whose DESSA-mini score indicates possible areas of need.

In addition to identifying potential areas for growth, the DESSA is a strength-based assessment that helps identify students’ strengths in social and emotional competencies in order to support access to academic success. DESSA forms are available below or from your school social worker or counselor. If you wish to opt your child out of the DESSA-mini please sign the opt-out form located in the list of documents below.

DESSA Screening Documents

DESSA Screening Dates

  • Beginning of the school year: 9/3/2024 - 9/30/2024
  • Middle of the school year: 12/20/2024 - 1/31/2025
  • End of the school year: 4/23/2025 - 5/14/2025