• Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS)

     100 Everitts Road

    Ringoes, New Jersey 08551

    Tel:  (908) 284-7680 Fax:  (908) 284-7685

     
     
    What is the purpose of Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS)?

    • Identify learning, behavior and health difficulties of students
    • Collect thorough information on the identified learning, behavior and health difficulties
    • Develop and implement action plans which provide for appropriate school or community interventions or referrals to school and community resources, based on the collected data and desired outcomes for the identified learning, behavior and health difficulties
    • Provide support, guidance, and professional development to school staff who identify learning, behavior and health difficulties
    • Provide support, guidance, and professional development to school staff who participate in each building's system for planning and providing intervention and referral services
    • Actively involve parents or guardians in the development and implementation of intervention and referral services action plan
     
    Why does the district have Intervention and Referral Services?
    New Jersey Administrative Code requires all school districts to have this service. The code is quoted below: 6A:16-8.1 Establishment of intervention and referral services.

     

    (a) District boards of education shall establish and implement a coordinated system in each school building for the planning and delivery of intervention and referral services that are designed to assist students who are experiencing learning, behavior or health difficulties and to assist staff who have difficulties in addressing students learning, behavior or health needs. District boards of education shall choose the appropriate multidisciplinary team approach for planning and delivering the services required under this subchapter.

     
    How is I&RS similar to the Child Study Team?
    • Both teams support teachers and students
    • Both are comprised of professionally trained staff
    • Both are regulated
     
    How is I&RS different from the Child Study Team?
    • I&RS teams write Action Plans, based on teacher referrals and specific observable information. These plans are reviewed annually, at a minimum.
    • CST use test results to place students into different programs, such as resource centers, in-class support, self-contained, or alternative educational placements. Child Study Teams write Individualized Education Plans, or IEP's which are reviewed annually, at a minimum.
    • Typically, an I&RS Team is comprised of the principal, school counselor, and teachers. Other specialized members, such as a reading specialist, occupational/physical/speech-language pathologists, school psychologist, learning disabilities teacher consultant or the school nurse may also participate.
    • Typically a Child Study Team is comprised of a school psychologist, a learning disabilities teacher consultant, and a social worker.  Speech-language pathologists, teachers, the school nurse and counselors may also participate.
     
    What if I receive a phone call indicating that the I&RS team will be meeting to discuss my child?

    Your input as a parent is important to allow for the most effective and informed process to help the child. If you disagree with the process, you may contact the principal, but there are no due process rights with regard to Intervention and Referral Services; the school is permitted to conduct the meeting with or without parental support.

     
    What typically happens at an I&RS initial problem-solving meeting?
    • Teams meet with teachers and other staff who have made referrals and requested assistance from the team
    • Information is collected prior to the meeting to help identify the primary strengths and weaknesses of the student in question
    • A specific problem is identified, goals for the intervention period are selected and brainstorming of possible strategies are identified and selected by the teacher  
    • New Action Plans are created for new referrals; strategies for the classroom and sometimes the parent or student are identified and actively monitored for successful implementation
    • Students previously referred are discussed; collected data is analyzed and progress is reviewed
    • Recommendations are made for changes, if any, to existing Action Plans
    • Decisions to continue, modify or conclude any aspect of the intervention are made
    • Child Study Team recommendations are discussed, if collected data on the interventions attempted supports the discussion
     
    What types of issues are typically discussed?
    • Academic concerns/lack of progress
    • Health issues
    • Behavior Issues
    • Social & Emotional issues
     
    What if I need more information?
    Any of the following staff will be able to give you more information:
    • Building principal
    • School counselor
    • Your child's teacher
     
    Links:
      
     
    I&RS Phases  

     

     
     
Last Modified on Friday at 3:52 PM