What Happens if My Child is Having Difficulty?
The intervention process at Indian Hill Elementary School is designed to help all students be successful in the classroom. A teacher or parent can request assistance. This assistance might be an informal conference - or through the more structured Intervention Assistance Team process.
The Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) is composed of a group of elementary school classroom teachers and other educational specialists. The group meets weekly throughout the year to collaborate in generating strategies which will help students to experience success and maximize academic, social and educational growth. The child's parents are also members of the IAT. Parents bring valuable information to the discussions and assist at home with the interventions that the team develops.
Listed below are the steps of the IAT process:
Step 1: The classroom teacher will contact the parent - or the parent may contact the teacher- if the child is experiencing difficulty in academics, social relations, or behavior. Parents should let the teacher know if the child is spending an unusual amount of time on homework, if he states that he does not like school or does not want to come to school, or that he does not have any friends. The teacher and the parent may have a conference to discuss their concerns and possible solutions. Often, basic classroom modifications or organizational strategies can reduce or elevate problems.
Step 2: The teacher may meet with other teachers in the team or with building specialists to share information and possible intervention plans. If a plan is developed, all teachers that see that child will be informed of the plan. Clear behavioral or academic goals will be written and clear measuring procedures determined.
Step 3: The interventions at home and at school are carried out for an appropriate amount of time. Many intervention plans will last at least 30 days. Results are documented and communicated with parents. If the student has been more successful, the interventions will be continued. If the child is still having difficulty, the teacher and/or the parent may fill out a referral form for an IAT meeting. The form asks for information about specific skills and behaviors, interventions that have been attempted and basic background information.
Step 4: The Intervention Assistance Team meeting is held. The child's parents are always invited to attend and participate. Others present at the meeting include the classroom teacher(s), the reading specialist, the language therapist, the guidance counselor, the academic specialist for that grade level, and the principal. When appropriate, the child may also be included. Together, the team will attempt to define the specific behaviors of concern and find out what is influencing these behaviors. The child's academic history, work samples, school records and other information will be shared. The team may offer suggestions for continued intervention or may recommend the student be evaluated if a disability is suspected.
Parent permission is needed for this testing, which is called a multifactored evaluation. The evaluation would include tests and checklists designed to measure the behaviors defined by the IAT team. State and federal guidelines regulate what types of tests must be given if the team thinks the child may have a disability. The results of the tests are shared with the team, including the child's parents.
For more information on testing, see What happens if my child is being tested?
Special Education Services/ When My Child is Having Difficulty/ When My Child is Tested/
ADD/ Learning Disabilities/ Developmental Handicaps/ Behavioral and Emotional Concerns/
State Testing/ Help at Home/ Glossary/ Other Resources/ Contact Us
