Download the Microsoft Word file here.

Student Assistance Team

What is a Student Assistance Team (SAT)?

The SAT is a school team, which includes the parent and the students, when appropriate, in a positive, problem solving, intervention process. It assists students by ensuring that the school and community are doing everything possible to make students’ school lives successful. Students are most successful where there is a strong spirit of cooperation between home, school, and community. Based on this shared responsibility, the SAT meets to explore possibilities and strategies that will best meet the educational needs of the students, and support teachers and parents. The SAT includes the most important people in the student’s life, parents or caregivers, teachers, counselors, specialists, school administrators or designees, and any other school or community members who can provide support.

How Does It Work?

The Process:

Students are typically referred by the classroom teacher, but any member of the school staff and/or parent may request support from the SAT for a student whose learning, behavior or emotional needs are not being met under existing circumstances. The classroom teacher(s) should have notified you, as the parent, regarding these issues.

Prior to the first SAT meeting, teachers would have implemented some classroom modifications that enhance learning for students. A modification may be as simple as a change in seating location, a daily assignment sheet, or an increase in the use of visual teaching aids. Sometimes a simple change can make a big difference for a student.

Any modification that has been tried or is currently in place will be discussed with you at the SAT meeting. Using this information, the team can suggest further steps to help the student.

What happens at the
SAT Meeting?

1. The student (when appropriate) and parents meet with a group of teachers, wellness staff, and/or administrators. The meeting takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the individual case.

2. A facilitator leads the group through
a process, which results in a written plan of action.

3. The team discusses the student’s strengths, concerns, gathers pertinent history and information and discusses present interventions and outcomes. The team then brainstorms interventions and chooses actions to complete a plan of action for student success.

4. As the parent, you will also be asked
to contribute information regarding your child’s learning needs and help with the development of an intervention plan.

5. The student’s intervention plan is
implemented and is reviewed after
several weeks to check student progress.

6. The student’s plan of action is
implemented and is reviewed to
check progress after several weeks.

What is the Future?
At the end of the meeting, a follow-up date will be scheduled to review progress. You will be invited to meet again with members of the SAT to evaluate changes and growth in your student.

Additional testing through Special Education resources may be recommended at this time. This recommendation comes from the members of the SAT only after modifications and suggestions have not proven to be successful.

What is the Role of the Parent in the SAT Process?
The parent:
• provides valuable information and another viewpoint for planning an effective program,
• shares the child’s strengths and concerns with school staff,
• participates in the development and implementation of a positive intervention plan for their child.

Parent Preparation Prior to SAT Meeting

My child’s strengths are (interests, hobbies, skills):
_____________________________________
____________________________
Concerns for my child are:
____________________________
____________________________
What motivates my child is: ____________________________
____________________________
Expectations I have for my child are: ____________________________
____________________________

Student Questionnaire

My strengths are:
____________________________
____________________________
Things I like about school are: ____________________________
____________________________
My concerns are:
____________________________
____________________________

At Home

Ways my family helps me:
____________________________
____________________________

My Future

When I finish high school I want to: ____________________________
____________________________
Jobs I would enjoy are:
_____________________________________

 

 


 

 

 

PARENTS • SCHOOL•COMMUNITY

 

Parent Brochure

 

 

 


Albuquerque Public Schools