Academics
Third Grade Reading Law
Michigan has passed a third grade reading law. Below is an informational sheet to provide you with more information on the subject.
School Improvement
Athens Improvement Plans:
Child Studies - Response To Intervention (RTI)
Pre-Child & Child Study Meetings (Elementary RTI Process)
Our process is to ensure we are doing RTI (Response To Intervention), where we intervene, reassesses, intervene, reassess, etc. The end result of a student going through a Child Studies process should be to close the gap and ensure students don't fall through the cracks. Special education placement should only result after we have thoroughly exhausted the avenues of response to instruction and response to intervention. Teachers will identify their three lowest performing students and bring them to a Pre-Child Studies Meeting where we will discuss for each student:
- Strengths/Weaknesses
- Areas of Greatest Concern
- Grades/Test Scores/Progress Monitoring Data
- Classroom Interventions
- Learning Accommodations
Throughout the year, we will continue to monitor, re-evaluate, and identify other students who may need assistance. A Child Study Team will meet when it is determined that a student is not being successful even when interventions have been provided through the Pre-Child Studies process. When needing to go to a Child Studies Meeting, a SIDR (Student Intervention Data Review) document will be completed. At least one Child Study must be performed before a student can be recommended for testing for Special Education Services.
Child Study Teams (Secondary RTI Process)
A Child Study Team will meet when it is determined that a student is not being successful even when interventions have been provided. The purpose of the meeting will be to gather information and implement more interventions to help the child achieve success with the curriculum. During this meeting, a SIDR document will be filled out. SIDR stands for Student Intervention Data Review. At least one Child Study must be performed before a student can be recommended for testing for Special Education Services. Documentation must be provided for a minimum of 6-8 weeks that even with interventions, the student is not achieving success with the curriculum.
Jennifer Bittner is in charge of Child Studies in the elementary and Lloyd Service at the high school. The district coordinator is Walter Dubbeld.
English Language Learners
The Athens Area Schools seeks to provide every child, regardless of national origin or native language, quality, and meaningful educational instruction. Consequently, students who are English Learners (ELs) are provided instructional services through an English as a Second Language (ESL) program which is designed to meet their unique needs.
Title I
Mrs. Colleen Swank is the Title Director for Athens Area Schools.
The Title program includes:
- Paraprofessionals who assist students in their studies
- Reading remediation provided by Mrs. Swank
- After-school tutoring
- Summer reading program for elementary students
- Credit Recovery classes for high school students
