In the Guilderland Central School District, the Instructional Support Team is one step in seeking a solution to a learning frustration (i.e. lack of academic progress or a behavior concern).

The Instructional Support Team is most frequently composed of both regular and special education teachers, support service personnel, and the building administration – all of whom are or may be involved with the student's educational program. Depending upon the building/grade level, the team will include your child's teacher(s) and an invitation may also be sent to special area teachers, the school counselor and other members of the school staff who are directly involved with the referred student.

The main objective of the team is to provide a forum for faculty and staff to share concerns and develop strategies that support students with special needs. In addition, the team seeks to provide interventions to assist the classroom teacher. If such strategies are successful, the team continues to monitor the student and make additional adjustments where necessary. If strategies are not effective, other program alternatives are examined and implemented. When all possible interventions are exhausted, a referral to the Committee on Special Education may be processed.

Students are referred to the Instructional Support Team as a means to investigate the cause of school difficulties when more traditional efforts fail. A referral to the Instructional Support Team may come from any staff member who has been involved with the student. It may also come from a parent who is concerned with the student's lack of progress. It may even come from an outside agency or person who has been seeing the child, such as a physician or private counselor.

Instructional Support Team leaders at Guilderland