v        The I.S.T. is a regular education process for children who are experiencing consistent academic or behavioral difficulties within the classroom.

v      This team approach looks for alternative interventions to be used in the classroom to maximize individual success.

v      It also serves as a screening process for students who may be in need of special education services.

v      I.S.T. includes a curriculum based assessment, observations, and interviews with the student, classroom teacher, parent, and special area teachers.

v      The team’s role is to create an action plan to meet the student’s needs.   This plan and interventions are monitored through a series of I.S.T. meetings.

v      The I.S.T. also helps to coordinate the entire continue continuum of regular education services which helps to meet the needs of all students.

v      The I.S.T. increases the strategies used by the teacher.

v      The process at Sabold also tracks the progress of all of the students in the school to ensure continued success for our children.

Who are the members of the I.S.T.?

v      Although members of the I.S.T. may differ from school to school, the team always includes the building principal, the student’s classroom teacher and the Instructional Support Teacher.

v      The parents are encouraged to participate in the team as well.

v      The school psychologist, literacy specialist, guidance counselor, Title I teacher, school nurse, the occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech and language teacher, and a learning support teacher may also be included as team members.

How are requests for I.S.T. made?

v      The classroom teacher usually is the person responsible for submitting requests.   She will contact the parents to inform them that she will be placing a referral.

v      The parent may also make a request for their child to be part of the process if they are experiencing continued academic or behavioral difficulties.   They simply inform the classroom teacher why they would like I.S.T. for their child and the problems that they are seeing.   The teacher will then will complete a request form and indicate that the request is being initiated by the parent.

Who is the Support Teacher?

v      The instructional support teacher is the coordinator of the team.

v      She gathers information about the student through various sources such as curriculum based assessment, interviews, observations, report cards, attendance records, etc. and assembles it in a Data Summary Report.

v      The I.S.T. acts as the facilitator for all I.S.T. meetings.

v      The I.S.T. also determines which educational specialists should be included for the meetings.

v      She also provides additional instructional materials to teachers and to parents when appropriate.

Resources to help your child learn:

v      Websites, resources, and meetings dealing with specific issues will be posted as they become available.

v      Additional educational materials such as games, computer programs, and additional materials such as lists of appropriate books and decoding strategy cards are also available to the parent as determined necessary at the action plan meeting.