In a further attempt to identify and intervene with students who may have special education needs, the Rainy River District School Board will be involved in a pilot program here next year.
Starting in September, team members from Huffman, Robert Moore, Riverview, and North Star Community School will be involved in the training and implementation of the Dynamic Screening and Intervention Model for Senior Kindergarten (DSIM-SK)–a part of the provincial initiative, “Promoting Early Intervention.”
DSIM-SK provides a practical guide for systematic observation, screening, and support of children at risk of school failure, said Donna Kowalchuk, special education co-ordinator for the board, in a report at last night’s regular meeting in Emo.
Using this screening instrument with a strong predictive validity, all students in SK in pilot sites will be assessed for readiness to learn. From this, students in need of help will be flagged.
These students at risk then will be tested for auditory and visual problems. The third stage will be the implementation of an intervention process.
The schools in the pilot program have made a commitment of a resource teacher to assist in the implementation for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
Principals, kindergarten teachers, and special education resource teachers will receive assistance and support through the “Promoting Early Intervention” consultant, and will be required to participate in the evaluation of this initiative.
The “Promoting Early Intervention” initiative was established in Ontario in March, 2000 after the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario was allocated $2 million by the province.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
