Meeting the Needs of All Students
by Mary Bendixen, Director of Technology & School Improvement
January 11, 2010
One of the greatest challenges school districts face is meeting the academic and personal needs of all students. While some children progress from one grade to the next with ease, others struggle to keep up the pace. Sometimes the reasons for this struggle are readily apparent, but more often it is not so easy to determine the cause of the problem.
Students who are identified as needing additional support to meet the goals of the educational program are referred to as "at-risk". While this is not a flattering term, it points out the greatest concern we have for struggling students...that they are at risk of dropping out of school.
Some things that may indicate a problem include frequent absences, being homeless, hyper activity, being disengaged during class, acting out, showing disrespect for others, and low grades. When a student shows two or more of these behaviors, then he is considered to be potentially at risk.
These concerns are then brought to the Child Assistance Team which consists of teachers, principals, counselors, and Grant Wood personnel. The team discusses the concerns and options for addressing the student's issues. A plan is then put in place to meet the academic and social needs of the student. Each plan is different but may include special instruction, counseling services within the school, support services from outside the school, and close monitoring of behavior and academic progress.
Special instruction includes programs such as Title I, Summer Reading Academy, Summer School, Student Success, and Alternative School. School counselors are available to assist at risk youth and programs such as Reconnecting Youth and Advisor/Advisee provide additional support. Community agencies, such as the Family Resource Center, Social Services, ASAC, and the Abby Center are available and included in an at risk plan as needed. Behavior and academics are monitored in a variety of ways including Intensive and Supplemental Plans, 504 Plans, and Individual Education Plans.
For additional details about the intervention process in each building, click the following links:
Strawberry Hill "At Risk Continuum"
West Middle School "Pyramid of Interventions"
Anamosa High School "Intervention Levels"
