Instructional Support Team Process
IST Mission Statement
The mission of the Instructional Support Team is to identify the learning needs of students experiencing school difficulties or who are at risk for failure and to provide them with academic, emotional, and/or behavioral support needed to succeed in school.
What is Instructional Support?
Instructional Support is a process to assist students who are not experiencing school success or who are at risk for failure. The collaborative process consists of a team working together to identify the student’s needs, set goals, and develop an Intervention Plan to achieve those goals. Administration, faculty, parents and the student are all members of the Instructional Support Team (IST).
What is the function of the IST Facilitator?
The IST Facilitator provides informational support to parents, teachers, and students. Once a formal request has been made, the IST Facilitator works with the referring teacher, parents, and student to implement the process. Duties include:
- Data collection and maintenance of records
- Curriculum-based Assessments
- Conduct interviews with parents, students and teachers
- Establish meeting schedules
- Assist the team in identifying problems and goals
- Monitor the Intervention Plan
- Coordinate efforts of teachers, parents and outside agencies.
- Model strategies
- Coordinate available services
What are the benefits of IST?
- Identifies students in need of academic, emotional, and/or behavioral support.
- Identifies students at risk of failure through a variety of screening methods and referral procedures.
- Provides initial and timely assistance to students, teachers and parents.
- Uses a team approach that always encourages parent participation.
- Systematically searches to identify and prioritize problems as well as strategies to assist students.
- Monitors the progress of the student
- Evaluates progress and determines recommendations.
How does the IST process work?
Any professional staff member or parent may ask for assistance from the Instructional Support Team. Parent requests for assistance should be directed to the classroom teacher and/or IST Facilitator.
After a request is made:
- A request is made to the IST
- Parent notified of referral by classroom teacher or other school personnel. (Teachers and parents should already be in communication before a request for instructional support is made).
- Interviews are conducted with student, parents, and teachers
- Data is collected
- Parent/teacher input is used to prioritize problems
- Potential goals are identified
Next Steps:
- The intervention meeting is held
- Goal(s) is/are established
- Intervention plan is written
- Strategies are implemented
- Progress is monitored
After the Intervention Plan is implemented:
- The progress review meeting is held
- Progress is evaluated
- Outcome recommendations are made
- Note: If IST interventions have produced little or no improvement with in 60 school days after the initiation of the IST process, the student shall be referred for a Multidisciplinary Evaluation (MDE).
- Additionally, the Team may at any time during the 60-day intervention period refer the child to MDE.
IST Members:
- Parents/Guardians
- Student
- Administration
- Instructional Support Team Facilitator
- Referring Teacher/Team
- Guidance Counselor
- Additional Staff as Needed
Instructional Support Facilitator: