INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT MODEL EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR K-3
Senate Bill 1039 (Substitute S-3)
Sponsor: Sen. Nancy Cassis
House Committee: Education
Senate Committee: Education
Complete to 6-16-08
A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 1039 (S-3) AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 2-28-08
The bill would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.641) to allow an intermediate school district to develop and make available to school districts and public school academies (customarily called charter schools) a model early intervening program for students in kindergarten to third grade.
The early intervening model program would be designed to teach classroom teachers and support staff to monitor individual student learning, and to provide specific support or learning strategies to students as early as possible, in order to avoid inappropriate referrals to special education.
The bill requires that the model be based on a program with documented positive results, and include literacy and numeracy supports, sensory motor skill development, behavior supports, instructional consultation for teachers, and the development of a parent/school learning plan. Specific support or learning strategies (based on an understanding of a child's learning needs) could include support (in or out of the general classroom) in areas including reading, writing, math, visual memory, motor skill development, behavior, or language development.
In addition, the model program would have to include a school-wide system of academic and behavioral support based on a support team available to the classroom teachers. The members of that team could include the principal, special education staff, reading teachers, school psychologists, speech and language services providers, school social workers, and other appropriate personnel who would be available to study the needs of the individual child systematically, and to work with the classroom teacher to match instruction to the child's needs.
An intermediate school district could use funds received under Section 81 of the State School Aid Act for the purposes of developing and making available an early intervening program. An intermediate school district that developed a model program under the bill would have to notify its constituent districts and the charter schools located within its geographic area that the model program was available, and that the intermediate school district had funds available for developing it.
The bill would have no fiscal impact.
Legislative Analyst: J. Hunault
Fiscal Analyst: Mary Ann Cleary
Bethany Wicksall
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.