| Penobscot Community Elementary School |
| Student & Parent School Information Handbook |
| Student Assistance Team ( S.A.T. ) POLICY & PROCEDURES |
| Mission Statement: As a concerned group of school personnel, the S.A.T. tieam is dedicated to helping children and parents find assistance for dealing with problems which interfere with a successful school experience. The team assists through individual assesments, case plan development, intervention, and coordination of services. Definition: The Student Assistance Team is a group of school professionals whos function is to identify, brainstorm, and intervene with an " at risk student ". The S.A.T is in complience with Section 504 of P.L. 93-112 ( Rehabilitation act of 1973 ). It provides students with a prevention / intervention process that insures that they have a free appropriate public education whis is a requirement of Section 504. The purpose of the S.A.T. is to redirect students exhibiting " at risk behaviors " before they experience school and social failure. " At Risk " issues include: Self destructive behaviors such as injury to one's self, injury to others, depression, Suicide tendencies, physical, mental, emotional, and Sexual abuse, Absenteeism and truancy, alcohol / drug abuse & dependency, parental / school drug abuse, Sexuality issues including pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, or school failure. The S.A.T. functions as a systematic process which makes it possible for school personnel to determine which students are having problems and refer them for help. The team may compose of an administrator, classroom teacher, chapter 1 teacher, and a special educator who have been trained in the S.A.T. process. Others might be invited to serve on a case by case basis. Referrals Referrals may come from a variety of sources: i.e. parents, teachers, administration, law enforcement, courts, social workers, counselors, health care providers or students themselves. School employed referents are protected from liability and recrimination from the board and or its agents for any S.A.T. activities made in good faith. Identification When school personnel are concerned about a student exhibiting "at risk" behaviors, they may refer that student to the S.A.T. by completing a Student Assistance Identification Form and delivering it to the building coordinator. This is to be delivered in person or placed in an envelope marked "CONFIDENTIAL" and placed in the coordinators mailbox. This information will be kept in a confidential file accessable only to the S.A.T. group or Case Manager . It does not go in to permanent school record files. Outside or self-referals can be made to any member of the S.A.T. , who will then document the information and complete the referral process. S.A.T. Process The S.A.T. coordinator schedules the case for review onthe agenda at the next S.A.T. Meeting. The S.A.T. will review the data, identifies and prioritizes issues, brainstorms and recommends interventions and strategies, and impliments a plan of action. Outcomes of interventions are review regularly at follow-up meetings. Each student being followed by the S.A.T. will have a case manager. Recommendations , interventions, and outcomes are recorded and kept in a confidential file accessible only to the S.A.T. or case managers. S.A.T. POLICY AND PROCEDURES The S.A.T. recognizes and parents are seen as critical interveners in their childs S.A.T. plan. To this end, efforts will be made to enlist active participation by parents in the S.A.T. process through the following means: 1. Parents will be informed of the referral of their child to the S.A.T. at the earliest appropriate time. 2. A liaison for the parents will be appointed from the S.A.T. 3. The liaison will inform the parents of the referral and clarify the purpose and function of the S.A.T. 4. The liaison will invite the parents to take an active roll in the S.A.T. process. 5. Parents may give and feedback, espress feelings, provide information, make decisions and/or block decisions of the S.A.T. 6. Parents / Students Rights to privacy and confidentiality will be assured through compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 |