General Education Services

Basic Skills Instruction

Basic Skills Instruction (BSI) is an academic support program for students in the General Education program. Support is offered in Language Arts and math in grades one through eight.

Student eligibility is determined through triangulating data from multiple sources, such as classroom observation and performance, coupled with norm-referenced assessments.  Students are identified throughout the school year as needed.

The program provides targeted instruction to support students’  development. The program reinforces the prerequisite skills needed to be successful in the classroom with an emphasis on teaching strategies that students can use independently. BSI teachers present concepts and skills through methods that complement traditional teaching approaches. Teachers utilize a range of explicit, systematic, and multi-sensory techniques to build students’ skills.

Students’ progress is monitored closely through the use of a variety of assessment tools.  Parents receive a progress report each marking period in addition to the child’s report card.

Program Specifics & Offerings For Grade Level Groups

Grades 1-3

Academic Year

  • Pull-out instruction during English Language Arts and Math instructional blocks; group size typically does not exceed 5 students  

  • In-class support during Writing Workshop (Grades 2-3)

  • Frequency of Instruction:

    • ELA & Math: Daily for 30-40 minutes per subject

    • Writing: twice a week

    • Individualized based on need

       

Summer

  • Brain Camp

  • During the summer, SDOC offers a literacy intervention program for students in kindergarten and first grade. The program meets for 40 hours (2 hour per day) for a consecutive 20-day period.

    • Student-to-teacher ratio is intentionally low. Classes typically do not exceed 12 students and are taught by a teacher and a paraprofessional.

    • Student progress is monitored throughout the program and a written report is uploaded to Genesis at the conclusion of the program.

    • The process for acceptance into the program begins in January with mid-year assessment results. Parents are notified of the initial recommendation in February.  An information session and workshop is offered for parents of students recommended for the program. 

    • Teachers revisit and make final recommendations in March. Parents are notified in April regarding eligibility.

    • In September, BSI teachers follow-up on all students who were recommended to determine whether support is needed moving forward throughout the school year.

Grades 4-5

  • Students work with the BSI teacher in the classroom  during the student's English Language Arts and Math instruction

  • Frequency:

    • English Language Arts: 4 periods per 6-day cycle

    • Math: 3 periods per 6-day cycle

    • Individualized based on need

Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS)

Purpose of I&RS

The primary purposes of the I&RS team are to:

  •  identify students in need and then plan and provide appropriate intervention for those students within the general education community; 

  • identify the responsibilities of building staff who participate in the planning and provision of intervention and referral services; 

  • actively involve parents/guardians in the development and implementation of the I&RS plans; 

  • review and assess the effectiveness of the services provided in achieving the outcomes identified in the intervention and referral plan; 

  • provide professional development to general education staff members who either refer students to the I&RS or who assist in providing the intervention and referral services; and, 

  • finally, help to coordinate the services of community-based social and health agencies.

Role of Interventionists

All interventionists are certified special education teachers.  One interventionist is located at each elementary school throughout the district.  The role of the interventionist at each school is to provide direct support to students in need of additional assistance in a variety of subjects: mathematics, science, executive functioning, literacy instruction, etc.  

The interventionists also play a key role in supporting the Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Committee at each school as well as the students receiving an I&RS Plan through the work of the committee. 

SDOC Interventionists

There are three interventionists located within our elementary schools.  One interventionist is housed at each elementary school.  Any student in need of support, can receive assistance from the interventionist.  Students formally identified in need of additional assistance through the Intervention and Referral Services Committee work with the interventionist as one area of support.  Classroom teachers and parent(s) are also able to request assistance from the interventionist for their child.  This request would be communicated to the building principal.  Interventionists work with students within their classroom or outside of their classroom, depending upon the type of support that the student requires.