BSAP Pupil Services & Attendance
Black Student Achievement Plan
Child Welfare and Attendance
Program Description
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Board of Education ratified the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) in February of the 2020-2021 school year. The BSAP is designed to address students’ unique needs related to historical and ongoing inequitable educational opportunities by fostering high academic performance, social-emotional awareness and management and a positive cultural identity for Black students. The District earmarked funding to address longstanding disparities in educational outcomes for marginalized students.
BSAP Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors (PSAs) build strong relationships, address systemic barriers, and help students thrive. At school sites, BSAP PSA Counselors work in partnership with families and schools to remove barriers related to home, community, and social-emotional needs—supporting the Black Student Achievement Plan’s mission to reduce chronic absenteeism and promote academic, social-emotional, and cultural success.
BSAP Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors (PSAs) build strong relationships, address systemic barriers, and help students thrive. At school sites, BSAP PSA Counselors work in partnership with families and schools to remove barriers related to home, community, and social-emotional needs—supporting the Black Student Achievement Plan’s mission to reduce chronic absenteeism and promote academic, social-emotional, and cultural success.
Rooted in equity and authentic connection, our work as BSAP PSA Counselors comes to life through the way we C.A.R.E. by:
Connecting with empathy
Assessing student-centered data
Responding to barriers
Engaging holistically
Program Services
BSAP PSA Counselors provide personalized child welfare and attendance services. Through a strengths-based, identity-affirming approach, BSAP PSA Counselors help students participating in the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP) reach their full academic potential while fostering a sense of agency, connection, and success. Program services include:
- Facilitating student and family workshops that promote wellness, and strengthen family-school partnerships.
- Creating culturally affirming, restorative spaces that foster emotional safety, healing, and a sense of belonging.
- Leading social-emotional learning sessions that affirm identity, build resilience, and promote student self-advocacy.
- Providing trauma-informed counseling and crisis response rooted in cultural understanding, healing-centered practices, and strengths-based support.
- Connecting students and families to LAUSD and community-based resources that reduce barriers related to attendance, housing instability, basic needs, and academic progress.
Resources
SSAS Social Media Feeds
BSAP Child Welfare and Attendance, Director
Dr. Wendy Cholico, LCSW [email protected]
BSAP Coordinator
Tysha Esparza [email protected]
BSAP Specialist
Maria Olvera