Grant County Schools
Student Services
Student Assistance Team Handbook
2013-2014
Grant County Schools
Dr. DeEdra Lundeen
Superintendent
Deborah Mohr
Director, Student Services
Special Education
Attendance
Nursing Services
Counseling Services
Psychological Services
Section 504
Student Assistance Teams
Grant County Schools operates as an equal opportunity institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, marital or family status, age or disabling condition in its activities, programs, or employment practices as required in Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. It is required that school systems observe practices, procedures and working environment which are free from discrimination on the basis of disability. Therefore, Grant County Schools will follow administrative procedures which allow any individual, including a parent, student, or employee, to file a grievance if it is alleged that a policy, practice, procedure, or direct service provided by the school system has resulted in a violation of Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact Dr. DeEdra Lundeen, Title IX Coordinator, or Deborah Mohr, Section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, 204 Jefferson Avenue, Petersburg, WV 26847, 304-257-1011X20.
Contents
INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………... 1
SECTION I …………………………………………………………………………... 2
Synopsis of State Policies …………………………………………………... 2
Synopsis of County Policies ………………………………………………... 3
SUMMARY ………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Flow Chart ………………………………………………………………….. 5
The Referral Rhyme ………………………………………………………… 7
SECTION II ………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Frequently Asked Questions ………………………………………………... 8
SAT Procedures ………………………………………………….. 10
Interventions ……………………………………………………… 11
Referral For MDT Evaluation ……………………………………. 13
504 Plans …………………………………………………………. 15
SAT or EC/IEP …………………………………………………… 17
Medical …………………………………………………………… 18
Grant County Schools
STUDENT Assistance Team HANDBOOK
INTRODUCTION
Student Assistance Teams, sometimes referred to as SATs, were established to assist regular educators in intervening early on a student’s behalf rather than waiting for the student to fail. Early intervention by these school teams not only promotes student progress in the general curriculum, but also reduces the need to label students as special education. However, Student Assistance Teams are required to address the academic and behavioral needs of students through appropriate instructional and/or behavioral intervention strategies within the regular education program.
Because of the varied responsibilities placed upon Student Assistance Teams, the intent of the “Student Assistance Team Handbook” is to provide SATs with some direction and guidance as they work collectively to intervene on the behalf of all students who need assistance. The Handbook covers the Student Assistance Team’s legal authority as outlined by both West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Policies and Grant County Board of Education Policies & Procedures. The Handbook answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding referral procedures, screening, 504 plans, solution focused interventions, differences between Student Assistance Team and EC/IEP responsibilities, timelines and more. A flow chart outlining the referral process, Student Assistance Team referral & School Team Report forms, excerpts from applicable policies, and verification procedures used during State Education Performance Audits are among the other materials included in the Handbook.
The Handbook is divided into three primary sections. Section I provides an overview of state and county policies, including a flow chart of the Student Assistance Team process and “The Referral Rhyme.” Section II consists of FAQs; the generic questions plus others of a more practical nature. Section III is reserved for the appendices, which include such materials as SAT referral forms, sample meeting notices, 504 Eligibility & Plan forms, and other reference & resource material.
SECTION I
STATE & COUNTY POLICIES
West Virginia Department of Education Board Policies
There are two West Virginia State Board Policies that govern or impact the functions of Student Assistance Teams. Policy 2510, a regular education policy, identifies the specific purpose and function of SATs, while Policy 2419, a special education policy, simply calls for the establishment of a school team. Below is a brief synopsis of those policies.
Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs (2510).
This policy (http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p2510.html) requires that each public school in West Virginia establish a Student Assistance Team that shall consist of at least three persons, including a school administrator or designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the team, a current teacher(s) and other appropriate professional staff.
According to Policy 2510, the purpose and function of the Student Assistance Team is to “Review individual student needs when a student demonstrates poor academic performance and/or engages in disruptive behavior….” Student needs are to be addressed through “appropriate instructional and/or behavioral intervention strategies within the regular education program….” When student needs are so great or significant, the Student Assistance Team may immediately refer the student for a multi-disciplinary evaluation.
The student’s parents are to be invited “to review recommendations made by the team…and provide feedback to the team about those recommendations.” The effectiveness of the instructional and/or behavioral intervention strategies is to be reviewed by the team no later than one grading period after implementation. Depending on the effectiveness of the interventions, the interventions may be continued, modified or terminated. The determination to refer the student for a multi-disciplinary evaluation may also be made at the time of the review.
Regulations for the Education of Exceptional Students (2419). This policy (http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p2419.html) requires the establishment of a child identification system for obtaining referrals from a variety of sources, including the screening process, school teams, private/religious schools, and from any interested person or agency. The policy further requires, in part, the establishment of “a team in each school to assist in the identification/referral of students whose educational performance is not commensurate with non-exceptional peers.”
As noted earlier, Student Assistance Teams were established to assist those students who demonstrate poor academic and behavioral performance through interventions within the regular education program. County policies governing Student Assistance Teams emphasize that regular education role inasmuch as ten out of eleven policies involve areas other than special education, i.e., attendance, student transfers, substance abuse, etc. Listed in alphabetical order below is a brief synopsis of Policies that address various responsibilities of Student Assistance Teams.
Acceleration. The Student Assistance Team and the parents are responsible for the written plan designed to address the needs of the student who is to be considered for academic acceleration.
Alcohol and Controlled Substance Abuse. Students committing a first offense of the policy shall be referred to the school’s Student Assistance Team. Those students committing repeat offenses shall also be referred to the school’s Student Assistance Team for review upon returning to their home school.
Attendance. The Student Assistance Team is responsible for developing appropriate interventions and monitoring attendance of chronically truant students, for parent conferences and for referral of chronically truant students to community agencies when appropriate. The Attendance Director will assist in this process.
Discipline and Safe Schools. Students with discipline problems should be referred to the Student Assistance Team for assessment and referral to appropriate community agencies.
Limited English Proficiency. When an identified LEP student’s progress indicates the need for additional assistance, the student will be referred to the Student Assistance Team.
Section 504. The 504 Committee in each school will be the Student Assistance Team and will receive referrals through the child-find process, from Eligibility Committees, and from parents, teachers and other appropriate sources. The school principal or Student Assistance Team coordinator is responsible for responding to questions and inquiries from parents or staff regarding 504 accommodations.
Special Education Policies and Procedures. The Student Assistance Team Chairperson is responsible for receiving written referrals from teachers, parents and/or other interested persons for those students who are experiencing difficulties in the educational program, as well as for those students who are suspected of being eligible for gifted services. The chairperson is also responsible for notifying appropriate staff and parents of the Student Assistance Team meeting, conducting the meeting, recording recommendations, notifying parents of the results of the meeting, reviewing the effectiveness of the interventions, and obtaining parent consent for evaluation.
Student Assistance Teams. The purpose of the Student Assistance Team is to assist with the educational, emotional, physical, social and individual needs of students. All schools will be assigned a Student Assistance Team Coordinator who shall serve as the Student Assistance Team chairperson. The Student Assistance Team Coordinator will accept referrals from staff, and parents. The Student Assistance Team shall consist of at least three persons, including the school administrator, a current teacher, and other appropriate staff. The Student Assistance Team will review student needs, will develop and implement appropriate intervention strategies, will review the effectiveness of those strategies, and will collect & maintain documentation of its activities.
Student Code of Conduct. When appropriate, students with discipline problems should be referred to the Student Assistance Team so that formal or informal assessments can be completed and/or interventions developed.
Student Transfers. The Student Assistance Team is responsible for documenting extenuating circumstances that may affect student transfers. Under such circumstances a representative of the potential receiving school is to be invited to attend the team meeting.
SUMMARY
Student Assistance Teams function under and are mandated by the authority of West Virginia Department of Education State Board Policy and various Grant County Schools’ policies and procedures.
Student Assistance Teams are called upon to assist students who may be experiencing a variety of learning and behavior problems. A primary role of the SAT is to assist classroom teachers in finding effective interventions so that students don’t need to be labeled. However, the SAT is also required to referral students who may be in need of special education services. And although proper procedure is important, recent federal legislation mandates that education focus on results, not process; on prevention, not failure; on response to intervention, not refer, test & place; on accountability for results; and on researched based intervention approaches. Therefore, Student Assistance Teams have a significant role to play in the education of all students.
Student Assistance Team
Flow Chart
Student demonstrates poor academic/social performance
or engages in inappropriate/disruptive behavior.
Student is referred to Student Assistance Team.
Student Assistance Team develops instructional and/or
behavioral intervention strategies within the regular
education program.*
Student Assistance Team reviews effectiveness of
intervention strategies no later than one grading period
(or as otherwise specified) after implementation.
Yes Interventions Effective No
Continue interventions Modify interventions
Yes Problem Resolved No
Terminate interventions Student is referred for a multi-disciplinary evaluation.
*Student Assistance Team may immediately refer the student for a multi-disciplinary evaluation when existing documentation indicates significantly deficient academic/social performance or inappropriate/disruptive behavior.
Student Assistance Team
Flow Chart
(Continued)
Student receives a multi-disciplinary evaluation.
Student is eligible
Yes for special education No
Special Ed. Services Refer to
with IEP Student Assistance Team to consider
504 Eligibility or Evaluation
Student is eligible
Yes for 504 Plan No
Implement 504 Plan
Student Assistance Team
develops instructional and/or
behavioral intervention strategies within the regular education
program & monitors
effectiveness as appropriate
Student Assistance Team periodically
reviews 504 Plan and refers for reevaluation
when deemed appropriate
The Referral Rhyme
* Behavior Intervention Plan
** Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team
***Eligibility Committee/Individualized Education Program
SECTION II
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This section includes frequently asked questions and some that are not so frequently asked. This section will also likely be updated periodically to reflect changes in law, policy, and practice. When reviewing the answers, please keep in mind that the word “shall” is used when something is required by policy. The word “should” does not indicate a requirement but probably reflects “the right thing to do.”
Generic Questions
1. What is a Student Assistance Team (Student Assistance Team) and who are its members?
The Student Assistance Team is a group of school professionals consisting of at least three persons, including the student’s current teacher(s), other appropriate staff and the school administrator or designee who shall serve as the chairperson (WVDE Board Policy 2510).
The core team should always include the student’s parent(s), current teacher(s), school administrator, and other appropriate professional staff (e.g., school counselor). While board policy requires the Student Assistance Team to consist of three people, policy does not include the parent as one of the three people. However, the parent should always be considered an integral member of the team in order for interventions to be successfully implemented. Additional appropriate professional staff will depend upon the nature of the referral. For example, the school nurse could be included when the student has health related issues, or the behavior disorders teacher/specialist/coordinator when behavior is the concern, or the Title I Reading Specialist when a reading problem is the reason for referral, or the Attendance Director for attendance concerns, etc. Please note that the additional professional staff listed are examples and are not necessarily required to be members of the Student Assistance Team.
2. What is the purpose of the Student Assistance Team?
The primary purpose and function of the Student Assistance Team is to review individual student needs when a student demonstrates poor academic performance and/or engages in disruptive behavior, and to develop appropriate instructional and/or behavioral intervention strategies to address those needs within the regular education program (WVDE Board Policy 2510).
3. Who can make a referral to the Student Assistance Team?
Referrals to the Student Assistance Team can and may come from a variety of sources, including the screening process, the student’s teacher, the student’s parent, or from any interested person or agency (WVDE Board Policy 2419).
4. How does one make a referral to the Student Assistance Team?
Referrals to the Student Assistance Team should be submitted in writing to the school’s Student Assistance Team Coordinator. The REFERRAL TO STUDENT ASSISTANCE TEAM form is the appropriate form to use and is to be completed by the person making the referral—generally the student’s classroom teacher. The classroom teacher, homeroom teacher, school counselor or other appropriate school professional could also complete the form for referrals from parents, or any other interested person or agency. Parents or other interested parties wishing to make a referral should be asked, however, to briefly describe (either verbally or in writing) their reason for referring the student. They should also be asked to submit their requests to an appropriate school official, e.g., Student Assistance Team Coordinator.