Northfield Elementary Student Assistance Team
PARENTS-SCHOOL-COMMUNITY
December 06, 2007
What is a Student Assistance Team?
The SAT is a school team, which can include the parent and students
when appropriate, that follows a positive, problem solving,
intervention process. It assists students by ensuring that the
school and community are doing everything possible to make
students’ school lives successful. Students are most successful
where there is a strong spirit of cooperation between home, school,
and community. Based on this shared responsibility, the SAT meets
to explore possibilities and strategies that will best meet the
educational needs of the students, support teachers, and parents.
The SAT includes the most important people in the student’s life,
parents or caregivers, teachers, counselors, specialists, school
administrators or designees, and any other school or community
members who can provide support.
How Does It Work?
Students are typically referred by the classroom teacher , but
any member of the school staff and/or a parent may request support
from the SAT for a student whose learning, behavior, or emotional
needs are not being met under existing circumstances. The classroom
teacher(s) should have notified you, as the parent, regarding these
issues.
Prior to the first SAT meeting, teachers would have implemented
some classroom modifications that enhance learning for students. A
modification may be as simple as a change in seating location, a
daily assignment sheet, or an increase in the use of visual
teaching aids. Sometimes a simple change can make a big difference
for a student.
Any modification that has been tried or is currently in place will
be discussed with you at the SAT meeting. Using this information,
the team can suggest further steps to help the student.
What Happens at the SAT Meeting?
1. When appropriate, the student and parents meet with a group of staff members. It is not always necessary for the parents to attend. The meeting takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes depending on the individual case. The team regularly meets on Thursdays at 7:15.
2. A facilitator leads the group through a process, which
results in a written plan of action.
3. The team discusses the student’s strengths, concerns,
gathers pertinent history and information, and discusses present
interventions and outcomes. The team then brainstorms interventions
and chooses actions to complete an intervention plan for student
success.
4. If the parent attends, he or she will also be asked to
contribute information regarding the child’s learning needs and
help with the development of an intervention plan.
5. The student’s intervention plan is implemented and is
reviewed after several weeks to check student progress.
6. At the follow-up meeting,, several options may be discussed. If the interventions appear to be working, the student may continue to be monitored. New interventions may be suggested. The student may also be referred for a special program.
What is the Future?
At the end of the meeting, a follow-up date will be scheduled to review progress. You may be invited to meet again with members of the SAT to evaluate changes and growth in your student.
Additional testing through Special Education resources may be
recommended at this time. This recommendation comes from the
members of the SAT only after modifications and suggestions have
not proven to be successful
If you have questions, please contact the school. Thanks for your
assistance in helping students.
