SST/RTI News and Notes
April, 2015
From the Desk of Deanna Rogers
During the March meeting, I went over the End-of-Year checklist with everyone in detail so that you could plan ahead and spread out items due. I originally stated the due date would be May 26; however, I need to make a small adjustment so that there is time for me to make contact with you, if needed, before your official last contract day. Therefore, the new deadline for the End-of Year Checklist is Thursday, May 21. As before, I will send a calendar reminder for you this week. If you haven't done so already, please be sure to share this checklist with your principal so that he/she is aware of the items that you need to complete and can support you.
As shared last month, our focus for April is to finish up SST meetings for the year for all students. At this point, those students that were first met on 1st semester should have a 3rd review meeting scheduled before the end of May. Those students met on early 2nd Semester (January - Early March) should also have a 3rd review meeting scheduled before the end of May. For those students first met on in Mid March-now, a review meeting needs to be scheduled on an as needed basis. You might send an email or communicate with teachers and ask for a status update. Most importantly, we want to ensure no teacher is implementing a intervention that is not working and that students in need of additional supports are receiving them.
As we have been reviewing SST management logs submitted and reports from IEP online, we have discovered a few schools that have held anywhere from 0-10 meetings for the last two months. Please note: we can not delay for any reason having meetings - that is one of our main responsibilities! If you have just one day assigned a week for SST meetings, in a given month it would be expected that you would have @20-24 meetings a month. The only exception would be if your overall case load is very low. We can't justify very few meetings held, when there is a list of students that haven't been met on since first semester, students with chronic behavior issues, and students continuing to not meet the standard. I have been reaching out to individual schools and will continue to do so in the coming weeks.
With that said, if you are finding yourself behind, it is critical that you have this conversation with your Principal now so that you can add an additional day for meetings, if needed. As I have shared with a few of you already, I would advise developing a plan (placing all of your remaining meetings on a calendar) before meeting with him/her.
If you need my assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me. As several of you have discovered, I am easily accessible even late at night! Remember, we are in this together! "Good, better, best; never let it rest; until your good becomes your better; and your better becomes your best!"
Deanna Rogers, Ed.S, NBCT
RTI Coordinator (SST, 504, & PBIS)
404.802.2665
To Do List - April
2. All final review SST meetings should be scheduled on your calendar from now until the end of the year and you should be holding these meetings after "regular" testing has ended for the day and/or on non- regular testing days, especially if you are behind.
3. Due to the lateness of the year, if you are finding that you have more than 3 students that you "think" may become referrals, please consult with your SELT and Psychologist well in advance of the meeting to review the files together as a team.
4. Review End-of-Year Checklist and prioritize those items that can be completed now. Make a plan and place all items on calendar so that you can meet the deadline on time.
Please be sure all 2nd grade (primary schools only), 5th grade, and 8th grade files are complete and there are no loose ends to tie up.
Summer Academy - Intervention Block
I want to thank Jennifer Barry, Antoinette Thompson, Melissa Hugh-Girdhari, Amy Carter and Holly Brookins for sharing some great interventions with me. I would also like to thank Jennifer Barry for volunteering to help me type the Elementary Reading Interventions as well! I could not have done it without these ladies! They give unselfishly of their time and I certainly do appreciate them!
IXL Pilot - Complimentary Access
For those of you not familiar with IXL, it is an adaptive math and language arts solution designed to provide students with rigorous, Common Core aligned practice and immediate feedback.
To obtain this complimentary access please follow the directions below:
1.) Click here to create a free trial
2.) Email your username to Jennifer at jenniferd@ixl.com to have your trial extended to 90-days.
3.) For some helpful videos on getting your trial up and running easily, click here.
"Green Folder" Committee
Spotlight Corner
I recently witnessed Larry handle a sensitive case with much professionalism and detail. Many of us may not have been able to keep our composure, but he did a remarkable job! I learned a lot from him during that experience! In addition, Larry can be counted on to get the job done and in a timely manner. He has never missed a deadline! He takes great care in all that he does and has done a great job managing the large case load at Mays. I recall about a month or so after I started that I hadn't heard from a few people so I reached out via email. Larry was one of them and he responded all was ok and he would reach out if he needed me! Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you...he takes care of business!
Larry has been instrumental to the success of SST/RTI at Mays HS. His leadership and desire for the students to succeed has enabled him to be successful. He has led many workshops in order to build the capacity of his teachers and works with academy leaders, and lead administrators to ensure integrity of services, interventions, and accommodations are delivered to students in need. Kudos, Larry!
Monthly SST/RTI Specialist Meeting
The agenda is still being worked on. However, below are some of the topics:
- End of Year Program Review
- 2015/16 School Year Updates
- Universal Screener
- Social Emotional Learning/Restorative Justice
- Preplanning 2015/16
- End of Year Checklist Reminders
Middle/High School Session (12:30 - 4:00pm)
- End of Year Program Review
- 2015/16 School Year Updates
- Universal Screener
- Social Emotional Learning/Restorative Justice
- Preplanning 2015/16
- End of Year Checklist Reminders
Friday, May 15, 2015, 08:30 AM
Atlanta Public Schools, Instructional Resource Center, Room 122
Coming Soon! Optional Math Interventions Training by Content Experts! Day/Time TBD! The Office of Student Services purchased some great resources for your use!
Office of Student Services
RTI Coordinator (SST, 504 & PBIS)
CLL Building - 6th Floor
Email: dtrogers@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Website: atlanta.k12.ga.us
Location: Atlanta Public Schools, Trinity Avenue Southwest, Atlanta, GA, United States
Phone: 404.802.2665
Twitter: @deannatrogers