Three Bridges School

I&RS Description 

WHAT IS INTERVENTION AND REFERRAL SERVICES??  Intervention and Referral Services, also known to many as I&RS, is an interdisciplinary team of professionals within the school environment who come together throughout the school year to formulate coordinated services and team delivery systems to address the full range of student learning, behavior, social, and health problems in the general education program as well as for students determined in need of special education programs and services.  The goal of the committee is to see student improvement in targeted areas.

HOW IS A STUDENT REFERRED?

1. A problem is identified:  A school staff member or parent needs assistance with their child’s learning, behavior, social, or health problem that is occurring during the student’s school program.

2. An I&RS Referral Packet is completed:  The I&RS team only begins once a staff member completes and submits the referral packet to the School Counselor, Mrs. Beth Furka.  The form should state clearly the reasons for the referral, their observations, and all prior interventions tried for the identified area of concern.

3. The referral packet is reviewed:  The I&RS coordinator, Mrs. Beth Furka, reviews the referral packet to ensure that it is completed accurately. 

4. Schedule the I&RS meeting:  The I&RS coordinator schedules the meeting for the next I&RS meeting. The I&RS team meets monthly.

WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER USING THE I&RS COMMITTEE?

1. The team process increases the chance of accurate assessment of the issues and provides a large repertoire of strategies because the team is composed of educational professionals with diverse training, experience and backgrounds.

2. Many teachers come to the committee after trying multiple interventions to address the area of concern. Therefore, the team is responsible to think in new and creative ways to resolve both typical and atypical learning, behavior, social and health problems.

3. The actions plans developed during an I&RS meeting to address the problem by identifying supports and strategies for both the teacher and the child to use.

4. The I&RS process yields descriptive documentation to support whether a child may require additional services outside of general education programming.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF STRATEGIES THAT MAY BE RECOMMENDED BY THE I&RS COMMITTEE??

Example of an identified goal for a student by the I&RS team

Improve On-Task behavior during seatwork:

• Make sure necessary supplies are available so student can work during independent time without excuses

• Provide visual examples on the desk of target behavior or work products for the child's reference

• Assign a specific buddy for clarification during seat work

• Give a student “fail proof” work that he or she can work on while waiting for assistance from a teacher

• Prepare a visual signal for the student to notify the teacher that he or she needs assistance

• Use a timer and “beat the clock” system to motivate him or her to complete their work in a timely manner

• Reward the student for work completion during short designated time segments

• Provide study carrels and quiet areas where distractions are limited

• Actually cut with scissors assignments or work pages into smaller segments and only pass out the small segments, one part at a time

• Give student a “to do list” or a check list of what they need to complete at their desk.  Have the student cross out as they complete each part.

• Observation and feedback provided by the district’s behaviorist

• Observation and feedback provided by the district’s school social worker or school counselor

• Social skills counseling with school counselor to work on improving on-task behavior

SOME ADDITIONAL PARENT INFORMATION REG:  I&RS

• I&RS records are locked and secured in a safe office for confidentiality

• Students can receive testing modifications as part of their I&RS action plan with the exception of STATE TESTING.

• All students who receive an action plan are assigned a “shadow”.  The shadow is a team member who shadows the child to check-in on progress and efficacy of the plan.  

• If a teacher has a question or concern regarding the plan, he or she contacts the “Shadow”.

• The parent is always notified by the teacher when their child is being referred to the I&RS committee. Parents are invited to attend. If a parent does not attend, the parent is contacted after the meeting by the teacher to review the outcome of the meeting and to share the action plan.

For more information or questions regarding I&RS at Three Bridges School, please contact Mrs. Beth Furka.