 Intervention Support Team (IST) When a parent, teacher, or other school person suspects that a student has a need for specialized instruction, then screening information must be collected and considered in order to make decisions regarding the need for further educational interventions. Gathering this information is through the use of the IST process. Types of Concerns/Problems: Low Academic Performance Behavioral/Emotional Hearing Visual Speech/Language Physical impairment Steps for referral 1. Determine the student has a need. (parent/guardian referral) The parent must exhaust other avenues of support, such as teacher conferences, prior to making the referral. 2. A teacher/staff member will first define the concern and then develop a hypothesis and assessment questions related to the problem. Based on the analysis of this data, and after a review of the student's records and consultation with team teachers, a teacher/staff referral may be made. 3. The IST Chair will request permission from parent/guardian for screening. 4. Once permission is granted, the IST Chair will request a vision/hearing screening, a Social History will be compiled by a school Social Worker during a home visit or by a phone conversation, and a Speech/Language Pathologist will also conduct a screening. 5. First IST meeting. The parent/guardian is invited. The committee reviews documented information and hears comments. Then classroom interventions/strategies are developed to address the concerns. 6. Second IST meeting. Review effectiveness of interventions and determine the course of action. Course of action options: 1. Find that the interventions were effective and continue in the regular education classroom. 2. Find that the interventions used were not effective and devise additional interventions. 3. Find that the interventions used were not effective and refer the student for Exceptional Education program testing. The IST process will take from 8-12 weeks or longer to ensure that every effort has been exhausted to help the student in the regular educational setting. Parents may contact the IST Chair for an appointment to discuss their concerns. Deidra Brown Counselor SAT Chair 703-4172 |
