I&RS

Any of these district employees will be able to give you more information: Building Intervention and Referral Coordinators Heather Kondas [email protected] Your child’s teacher Building Principal CST Chairperson  

If the I&RS Plan is successful in meeting the needs of the student, then the Plan may continue to be maintained and monitored or the Plan may be discontinued. If the I&RS Plan is not successful, then additional information is collected, additional professional advice is secured and additional resources are identified. In some instances, referral to a basic skills or a special education program may be necessary.

The regulations requiring I&RS allows the building I&RS teams to be as flexible as necessary in order to perform the necessary functions. Typically, the following individuals participate: o   Principal and Teacher o   Support staff: School Counselor, Nurse, Learning Disabilities Consultant; Psychologist; Social Worker o   Other: Parent; Community Agency Representative

1)                 Request for I&RS intervention; 2)                 I&RS meeting is held; 3)                 Action Plan is designed and implemented; and, 4)                 Action Plan is monitored and reviewed; this plan is revised, expanded, or discontinued depending on need.

Any of the following may indicate that a student is experiencing difficulties: o   Failing grades o   Cheating o   Not completing assignments o   Falling asleep in class o   Chronic absenteeism o   Poor participation o   Erratic behavior o   Defiance of authority o   Bullying behaviors o   Eating disorders o   Alcohol, tobacco or other drug use o   Poor personal appearance and hygiene o   Early sexual activity o   Suicide attempts o   Anything out of the ordinary for that student

If a student exhibits specific observable behaviors that indicate that he or she is experiencing learning, behavior or health difficulties, he or she may benefit from a referral to the I&RS Team.

As stated in N.J.A.C. 6A:16-8.1, the functions of I&RS are as follows: o   Identify learning, behavior and health difficulties of students; o   Collect thorough information of the identified difficulties; o   Develop and implement action plans which provide for appropriate interventions based on the information collected and the desired results; o   Provide support, guidance and professional development to school staff to properly identify and implement interventions designed to address student difficulties; o   Actively involve parents and guardians in the development and implementation of I&RS action plans; o   Coordinate the services of community-based social and health provider agencies and other community resources; o   Maintain accurate records of all requests for [...]

I&RS is a state mandated system of clearly defined steps that are taken to assist a struggling student in improving educational outcomes. These steps are taken by a multi-disciplinary team, which meets, regularly, to monitor the success of students identified through the referral process, as needing specific academic and/or behavior “interventions” in order to be successful. These interventions are monitored over a period of time and may be modified, enhanced or discontinued as indicated by the needs of the student involved. The I&RS team aids students in the general education program, but also provides support for students determined to be in [...]