Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS)

The intervention strategies agreed upon are designed to assist individual students.

Participants of the I&RS team may be the following individuals: Principal, Guidance Counselor, Instructional Support Specialist, Teachers, Child Study Team member, School Nurse, or others having knowledge of the student.

When does a teacher request a I&RS review?
Teachers routinely use varied strategies to address a child’s needs in the classroom. The teacher requests services of the I&RS team when a particular student continues to have difficulties despite these efforts.

What kinds of needs are reviewed by I&RS?
When a child experiences difficulties that affect his or her academic progress, or has exhibited behavior that interferes with learning, the teacher may request a review by the I&RS team.

Student difficulties may include problems responding to written or verbal information, organizing, focusing, and/or completing work without constant teacher intervention.

How does the I&RS team help the teacher?
The I&RS team supports the teacher by suggesting additional strategies and other alternative problem solving approaches and reviewing the school resources designed to assist the student.

How are parents informed?
The teacher discusses his or her concerns with the student’s parents prior to requesting a I&RS review. Following the meeting, parents will receive a copy of the I&RS Plan developed during the meeting.

What happens during the I&RS meeting with the teacher?
The teacher is invited to discuss the problem with the I&RS team at a meeting scheduled during the school day. At that time, the teacher describes the student and the difficulty the student is having.

He or she will identify both successful and unsuccessful strategies used, as well as current efforts to assist the student.

Alternative methods of intervention and new approaches are developed collaboratively. The I&RS team and teacher select appropriate strategies to implement.

The I&RS Plan contains specific goals, strategies for implementation, and the individuals responsible for each action.

A timeline is established for implementing the I&RS Plan and assessing its effectiveness.

How is follow-up accomplished?
The I&RS Plan is monitored by the classroom teacher and possibly a I&RS member assigned to assist the teacher.

At a time specified within the plan, the teacher reconvenes with the I&RS team to report on its success. If the student’s needs are not being met by the initial plan, additional interventions may be suggested and the plan may be modified to reflect these changes.

Under what circumstances might the Child Study Team become involved?
The I&RS team recommends actions intended to resolve the difficulties identified. If the actions taken and resources sued are not adequate and the problem still remains, the student’s needs may suggest referral to the Child Study Team. Parents must participate in the decision as to whether a Child Study Team evaluation will be done.