Student Support Services plays a key role in ensuring that all AISD students have a fair opportunity to succeed to their full developmental and academic capacity. Through this program, the school provides a wide-range of services to students who possess learning differences and to students who are experiencing social and emotional difficulties. The program also provides academic English language support for those students who are non-native speakers of English who require academic and social support to develop English language fluency. AISD is an inclusionary school, and consequently, services are aligned as much as possible with the student’s regular classroom environment.

English as a Second Language – ESL
Elementary School ESL Program: 1-5
Upon enrollment, potential ESL students will be assessed by one of the Support teachers. By looking at the results of the assessment and by reviewing the student’s school records, a decision may be made to place the student in the ESL program. A student will be placed in the ESL program if he/she does not have the English language skills to function effectively in the regular classroom.

The program in the Elementary School is a combination of different teaching models, including in-class support and pullout support – support that takes place outside the regular classroom. The amount of ESL instruction varies depending on student needs.

A beginning level student receives pullout ESL classes on a regular basis. These classes focus on vocabulary development and language skills that are appropriate for the student’s age and proficiency level. Once a student has acquired social language skills, they still receive ESL support to build academic language skills. Students at this stage will receive one or two pullout classes per week and one or two push-in (support that takes place in the regular classroom) sessions. The amount of in-class support depends on availability, scheduling, and mutual agreement between the ESL and classroom teacher. During in-class support, the ESL teacher works with small groups of students and scaffolds content area to the level needed for understanding.

Learning Support Services
Learning Support Services are available in the Elementary in Grades K-5. The overall academic program is committed to the realization of each student’s potential through a holistic program and by using instructional differentiation. During the admissions process the school attempts to verify that AIS/D is an appropriate educational environment for each new student through admissions testing and one-on-one meetings between the Counselor, Principal (when possible) and the potential students and parents.

The goal of the program is to increase the student’s skill level and provide remedial plans so that the student becomes more successful in the regular classroom. Services are available to students who may need supplemental support in the areas of: reading, writing, speaking, thinking, mathematics, language development, and organizational/study habits. The Support Teacher, in collaboration with the classroom teacher will determine what amount of time will be spent with the student each week on an individual basis.

Students receive formal support through the Student Support Team (SST). The SST is comprised of professional educators and related personnel. Its purpose is to investigate student referrals, design strategies and recommendations, implement actions that lead to helpful services and opportunities for success in the classroom and monitor the progress of learning support students. Parents are looked upon as partners with the school in supporting the education of their child.

Counseling Program
The Elementary School counseling program is designed to assist and support students in their social, emotional and academic development. Often this assistance is in the form of supporting teachers, parents and families so that the needs of the student are best met. Student support may be addressed through the following ways:
Students may be referred to the counselor by him or herself, teacher, parents or principal. The counselor will contact the parents if there appears to be a need for the student to meet with the counselor over a period of time.

Life Skills
The counselor meets with each class to explore and discuss various topics relating to skills that one uses throughout life. Classes meet every other week except pre-kindergarten, which meets weekly. Whenever possible the topics are integrated into the units the class is studying at the time. Teachers may also ask the counselor to discuss a topic that is specific to the needs of the group/class. Some examples of topics are: emotions, making and keeping friends, working with others, resolving conflicts, personal strengths, bullying, personal safety, substance abuse, study skills, test taking strategies, transitions, how thinking influences feelings, relationships and careers. Topics are explored through developmentally appropriate activities.

More specific information about ESL, Learning Support Services and Counseling can be found in the Student Support Services Handbook