If your child is having difficulties in school, first talk to his or her teacher.  You and your child's teacher will work together to determine specific services and/or strategies that will support your student's success in school, such as supplemental reading instruction and Academic Intervention Services (AIS) with Mrs. Ambrose.  After this, if you or the school suspect that your child may have a disability that significantly impacts educational performance and requires special education intervention, a referral can  be made to the Committee on Special Education (CSE) for your child to be evaluated.  This will be done by the Penfield Central School District, since this is where St. Joseph School is located.  Please contact Mrs. Sharon Ambrose at school for specific information.  Penfield contacts are:

Director of Special Education K - 12:  Gwenda Buckman, 249-5743
Special Education Administrator for Elementary Schools:  Rick Boerman, 249-5717 (our school liason)

New York State Education Department



Academic Intervention Services:

Academic Intervention Services are available for students in grades K - 6 who need additional academic support.

Description of Academic Intervention Services (AIS):
Academic Intervention Services are:

• additional educational experiences required by New York State Department of Education;
• designed to support students who need extra support in achieving the New York State Common Core Learning Standard;
• intended to help students meet expected levels of performance on State mandated assessments.

Eligibility criteria to receive Academic Intervention Services:
Students eligible for AIS are:

• those who score below the designated performance levels on elementary State assessments in English language arts, mathematics, and science;
• those at risk of not meeting State standards, including those K-3 students who lack reading readiness.

A student will be placed in the AIS program if:

• Student fails to meet the expected level of performance on a State mandated assessment;
• Student demonstrates skills or grades that place the student at risk of not passing a State mandated assessment.

The following are State mandated assessments:

• English Language Arts for grades 3 - 6;
• Math for grades 3 - 6;
• Science for grade 4.

Types of AIS services offered:
Academic Intervention Services include the following student support services:

• additional instruction in English Language Arts and Math for grades 4 - 6;
• additional instruction in Science for students in grade 5;
• progress monitoring

Length of time a student will continue to receive these services:
Students whose participation is determined in their performance on New York State or local assessments will begin receiving services in the semester following administration of the assessment(s).  They will continue receiving services until they have demonstrated improved capacity to meet the New York State standards.  This can be accomplished by achieving a level 3 on a state assessment.

How the school will keep parents informed:
Communication between school and home is a very important part of the program.  The communication plan includes the following:

• an entry letter to parents that briefly explains the student's needs and program:  including the beginning date of services; reasons (criteria) for the provision of services; a summary of instructional and support services to be provided;
• a letter explaining any modification of services for the student;
• an exit letter to parents that acknowledges the student's progress and informs them that their child will no longer be receiving AIS services;
• providers of AIS services will communicate regularly with classroom teachers.