Academic Intervention Services

 

As required by the State Education Department, students in need of additional services are assigned extra help under the heading Academic Intervention Services (AIS).  Harrisville Central offers a variety of academic intervention services to students, both in the classroom and in small groups in another setting.  The specific services offered are also found on the Academic Intervention Services A-Z Terminology Guide. Students may be assigned to AIS at anytime during the school year, although the majority of students are assigned at the beginning of the school year. Teachers meet at the end of each school year to review the progress of all students.  They look at a variety of measures and determine which students are in need of additional academic support.  The specific measures used to determine children’s needs are listed on the Academic Intervention Services A-Z Terminology Guide.   Students selected for services in June are assigned to AIS the following September.  Students selected in the middle of the school year generally begin services within a week or two of identification.  Parents are notified of the type of services their child will receive in addition to the reasons the child was placed into AIS.  We strongly encourage parents to contact their child’s academic intervention services teacher at any time if questions or concerns arise.

            It is the intention of the district to assist students to the level that they no longer need support.  A student’s services are discontinued when assessments show that a student is progressing to a level consistent with meeting the New York State Learning Standards.   

           

Academic Intervention Services A-Z Terminology Guide

 

Description of Assessments Used in Determining Academic Intervention Services

 

Classroom Average – The classroom average is an evaluation of the child’s overall work.  Grade 3–6 students scoring 75 or below are flagged for Academic Intervention Services (AIS) consideration.  In grades K – 2 students scoring below an S (satisfactory) are considered for AIS.

 

Early Literacy Profile Reading - Teachers individually assess student’s reading ability, using the Early Literacy Profile scale, in October and May.  The expected range, as determined by New York State, for each grade level is listed below.  Students scoring below the expected level are considered for Academic Intervention Services.

 

Early Literacy Profile Writing – Teachers assess student’s writing ability, using the Early Literacy Profile scale, in October and May.  The expected range, as determined by New York State, for each grade level is listed below.  Students scoring below the expected level are considered for Academic Intervention Services.

 

 

Reading Level expected in May

Writing Level expected in May

Grade K

2

2

Grade 1

4

4

Grade 2

5

5

Grade 3

6

5/6

 

Final Exam or Regents Exam -  An examination given to students at the end of a course.  A score below 65 indicates that a student may need Academic Intervention Services.

 

New York State Assessments – New York State requires all students in grades 4 and 8 to take a standardized assessment.  The results of this assessment fall into four levels from level 1 to level 4.  Students scoring a level 2 may be monitored if all other assessments indicate the child is doing well.  Students scoring at a lower level 2 or a level 1 will be given Academic Intervention Services.

 

TONYSS – (Test of New York State Standards) – This is a standardized test given to all grade 3, 5, 6 and 7 students for both mathematics and English language arts.  The assessment, which resembles the Grade 4 and Grade 8 New York State tests, requires students to score at a level 3 or above to be at State standard.  Students scoring a level 1 or 2 will receive academic intervention services.  Students scoring an upper level 2, whose other assessments indicate that the student is doing well will be recommended for monitoring.

 

Teacher Recommendation – Teacher recommendation may be made by the child’s classroom teacher or an academic intervention services teacher. 

 

Theme Tests – There is a theme test at the end of every unit in the basal reading series.   When the theme test average falls below a 75 students are considered for Academic Intervention Services.

 

 

Description of Services Provided

 

After School Small Group Instruction – Students meet with the Academic Intervention teacher after school to work on specific skills that the students are lacking.  Some instruction may be given to the current homework assignment if needed, although completion of homework is not the emphasis of this service.

 

AIS Subject Area Labs – Students attend small group instruction with the Academic Intervention teacher in addition to the time spent in the classroom.  Students are pulled out of the classroom during a time that will least affect their overall achievement.  During the small group instruction students meet with the Academic Intervention teacher to work on specific skills that the students are lacking.  Some instruction may be given to the current homework assignment if needed, although completion of homework is not the emphasis of this service.

 

In classroom support – The Academic Intervention teacher works in the classroom, in conjunction with the classroom teacher, to offer assistance to children immediately when the need arises.  Many times the AIS teacher can check a student’s understanding of a new concept and explain the concept in another way if necessary so that the child completes the daily lesson with a full understanding.  This “just in time” approach decreases the need to undo a misunderstanding and increases the child’s confidence in the subject matter.

 

Monitoring - The student’s achievement is closely checked by the teacher monitoring the student.  In the event the student’s grades drop, assessments fall below Standard Level, or the student indicates a need for additional assistance, the teacher may recommend additional services be added.

 

 Small Group Instruction Outside of Classroom – Students attend small group instruction with the Academic Intervention teacher in addition to the time spent in the classroom.  Students are pulled out of the classroom during a time that will least affect their overall achievement.  During the small group instruction students meet with the Academic Intervention teacher to work on specific skills that the students are lacking.  Some instruction may be given to the current homework assignment if needed, although completion of homework is not the emphasis of this service.

 

Summer School – Some students may be recommended to attend summer school in order increase their achievement level.