7617 - Pre-referral Intervention Strategies in General Education (Prior to Referral for Special Education)

Policy: Pre-referral Intervention Strategies in General Education (Prior to Referral for Special Education)	Policy Number: 7617
Date of Original Policy: 07/10/2002	Date Revision Adopted: 02/03/2021
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 01/13/2021	Date of Next Review: 01/13/2024
Replacement of Policy Number:

The School District shall establish a plan for implementing school wide approaches and pre-referral interventions in order to remediate a student’s performance prior to referral for special education.

The provision of programs or services for students starts with consideration/implementation of instruction in the general education curriculum, with appropriate supports or modifications as may be necessary. In implementing pre-referral intervention strategies, the District may utilize resource /strategies already in place for qualified students including, but not limited to, services available through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Educationally Related Support Services and Academic Interventions Services as defined in Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations. All of these programs may be considered as possible components of Pre-referral /Intervention Instructional Support Plans. The District will ensure that they have a system in place, with appropriate personnel, for developing, implementing and evaluation pre-referral intervention strategies.

The District will provide general education support services, instructional modifications, alternative instructional approaches, or alternative program options to address a student’s performance prior to a referral to a Committee on Special Education (CSE). Formal Instructional Support Services Teams (ISST) or other school based team (e.g. Direct Student Support Teams or Child Study Teams), will be formed in accordance with law and regulations as may be applicable as well as District guidelines. The ISST will include representatives from general and special education as well as other disciplines and include individuals with classroom experience. Parents/persons in parental relations to students will be involved in developing pre-referral strategies to address the educational needs of their child.  Additionally, the District will seek collaboration between outside agencies and the school prior to a referral of the student to the CSE in order to address necessary student support services.

Administration shall ensure that appropriate opportunities exist for collaboration between general educators and special educators , and that consultation and support are available to teachers and other school personnel to assist parents/persons in parental relation to students and teacher in exploring alternative approaches for meeting the individual needs of any student prior to the formal referral for special education.

The determination of prevention and pre-referral intervention strategies/services shall consider the student’s strengths, environment, social history, language and cultural diversity in addition to the teacher’s concerns. The building administrator will further ensure that all staff are familiar with intervention procedures and procedures for operating ISST.

Pre-referral /Intervention Instructional Support Plans shall be proactive in their strategies to meet the broad range of student needs and to improve student performance. Pre-referral / Intervention strategies or Instructional Support Plans are to be reviewed and evaluated to determine their effectiveness, and modified as may be appropriate. Appropriate documentation of the prevention or intervention strategies implemented shall be maintained.

However, should a referral be made to the CSE during the course of implementing pre-referral / intervention instructional support services, the CSE is obligated in accordance with law to continue its duties and functions, and must meet mandatory time lines in evaluating the student for special education services and implantation of and individualized education program, if applicable.

Educational Related Support Services
Educational related support services (ERSS) means curriculum and instructional modification services; direct student support team services; assessment and non-career counseling services, special instruction to eligible students with disabilities as defined in Education Law Section 4401, which does not generate excess cost aid including related services but excluding transportation and transition services; and to eligible, qualified students pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These services are provided to eligible students, individually or in groups, and may include those related consultation services provided to their families and related school personnel in order to enhance the academic achievement and attendance of such students. Educational related support services shall also meet speech and language improvement services as defined in Commissioner’s Regulations. ERSS may be utilized as a component of any Pre-referral /Intervention Instructional Support Plan.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
For students who are qualified for services pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, but are not classified as students with disabilities as defined in Education Law section 4401, Section 504 Accommodation Plans may address instructional support services that can be utilized as components of any pre-referral /intervention strategies as deemed necessary or appropriate.

Academic Intervention Services
Academic intervention services means additional instruction which supplements the instruction  provided in the general curriculum and assists students in meeting the State learning standards as defined in Commissioner’s Regulations and student support services which any include guidance, counseling, attendance and study skills which are needed to support improved academic performance.  However, such services shall not include services provided to students with limited English proficiency pursuant to Commissioner’s Regulations and special education services and programs as defined in Education Law Section 4401. Academic intervention services are intended to assist students who are at risk of not achieving the state learning standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies and science, or who are at risk of not gaining the knowledge and skills needed to meet or exceed designated performance levels on State assessments.

In implementing prevention or pre-referral intervention support strategies in order to remediate a student’s performance prior to referral for special education, the utilization of academic intervention services, as enumerated in Commissioner’s Regulations, may be included as a component of any such Pre-referral / Intervention Instructional Support Plan.

Education Law Sections 3602(32), 4401 and 4401-a
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Sections 100.1(g),(p),(r),(s) and (t); 100.2(v); 100.2 (dd)(4); 200.2(b)(7); 200.4(a)(2) and (9); 200.4(c); and
Part 154 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
29 United States Code (USC) Section 794 et seq.