Student Assistance Team (SAT)

All students in the Albuquerque Public Schools are placed through a general screening process which includes: vision and hearing screenings; district and state mandated testing; attendance, cum folder, dominant language, and report card records; teacher observations; and progress reports. This generalized screening is a function of the general education process. Some students, however, will not be successful in the general education program. If this is the case, classroom intervention and/ or contact with the parent(s) is appropriate. There will be a group of students whose unique needs are not met by the parental contacts or interventions of general education. When this happens, a referral to the schoolâs support team(s) is appropriate. This team may suggest other interventions/contacts, or it may suggest a referral to Special Education.

Membership

Nucleus

Principal or designee

Grade level counselor

Support team leader

"B" level special education teacher

Grade level SLP person

Teachers of student being reviewed

Nurse

Other members as appropriate

Specific teacher(s) will be required to attend.

Appropriate special education teacher for possible special education referral.

Developmental teacher(s) if developmental placement is to be considered.

Procedures

The concerned teacher, principal or counselor contacts the grade appropriate supportteam chairperson about the student. Interventions will be tried and documented. (Parent referrals will have some school personnel usually the counselor, contact the support team chair).

If interventions are not successful, the staff member (teacher, principal, or counselor) will inform the grade appropriate support team chairperson of the need to refer.

The support team chairperson contacts the grade level counselor, schedules the student for support team, and requests in-school screenings to be done by appropriate staff members. The counseling secretary sends out notification of the staffing to support team members and the parent notification. All this must be done no later than two weeks before the student is to be screened.

The grade level counselor sends and gathers progress evaluations, and intervention documentation and information pertinent to the student being referred.

Student is screened at support meeting.

Recommendations are developed with all membersâ participation.

Parents are notified of recommendation(s) made by support staffing.

Recommendations will be implemented.

Responsibilities

Referring teacher

1. Discuss student with grade appropriate support team chairperson.

2. Document interventions/parent contacts (see attached).

3. Notify grade level chairperson of intent to refer if interventions do not help.

4. Notify parent of support team referral (usually a telephone contact).

5. Sign parent notification letter (see attached).

6. Present reason for referral to support team, plus additional background information.

7. Participate in the recommendation process.

Classroom teachers

1. Present background and current academic information.

2. Participate in the recommendation process.

3. Conduct any follow-up activities/interventions recommended by the support team.

Principal

1. Be present for the grade appropriate support team meeting and administrative decision making.

2. Share discipline and family conference information if appropriate.

3. Participate in the recommendation process.

4. Contact any absent person whose presence was requested.

Counselor

1. Gather progress evaluations and intervention documentation sheets from each of the studentâs teachers.

2. Gather counseling and family background information.

3. Review cum folder for previous school information.

4. Present background (school, family, counseling ) and any pertinent cum folder information (not testing).

5. Participate in the recommendation process.

6. Write recommendation with the committee to be sent home to parents and placed in cum folder (see attached).

Chairperson

1. Help teacher begin intervention/support team process.

2. Schedule support meetings.

3. Contact appropriate staff personnel for in-school screenings.

4. Notify grade level counselor.

5. Contact referring teacher for signature and verify parental notification.

6. Sign parent notification letter (see attached).

7. Chair meeting (see attached).

8. Participate in the recommendation process.

Special Education "B" level teacher

1. Share special education expertise.

2. Share information on special education referral process and regulations.

3. Coordinate the special education referral process when student is referred for diagnostic testing.

4. Share additional information when it is available.

SLP grade level person

1. Share SLP screening and information.

2. Screen as part of the referral process as appropriate.;

3. Participate in the recommendation process.

Nurse

1. Share medical information, medical history, and family background information when present.

2. Participate in the recommendation process.

3. Follow up with any health screenings or medical contacts as recommended.