A School-Wide Lesson: Early Warning System (EWS)

Our spring semester grade-level targeted school-wide lesson focused on helping students understand the academic and behavioral supports for students. 

Students learned about our Early Warning System (EWS), a data report designed to surface students who might be in jeopardy of not graduating, or who need intervention. The report is based on grades, attendance, and behavior. 

Based on data from marking periods 1 and 4, our staff comes together to provide interventions for students who appear in this data set. 

Through respectful communication, we work as a collective to show students that teacher and staff outreach is a good thing– a support. While meeting with a staff member about a plan to improve, along with communication with one’s guardian might not make a student “happy,” we do want all students to know that this is a proactive support and we want all students to feel supported!

At the end of our lesson, we asked students: Does feeling connected to school mean feeling happy or feeling supported? We are proud to report that students realized that while school may not always make them happy, they should always feel supported in their educational journey. 

A Focus on Engaging Caregivers: Marking Period 2 Letter to Guardians

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Marking period 2 grades are an important indicator of student progress. If your student is receiving A’s, B’s, and C’s, they are on track and do not require additional screening from our staff at this time. If your student is receiving a D or F in one or more classes, our staff will continue to communicate with students and families through grade updates on Canvas. We want students to understand that our outreach is not negative. This engagement is supportive.

We want all students to feel supported in their educational journey here at Independence!

How do we identify students in need of additional support? The Early Warning Systems Report is a report that surfaces students in jeopardy of not graduating. Our staff works together to connect with students and guardians to provide additional outreach and support. Outreach might look like:

• A prioritized list of assignments for a specific class

• 1:1 discussion with a counselor about afternoon routine and study habits

• 1:1 discussion with a student advisor about attendance

• Review of specialized plans (504s or IEPs)

• CARE Referral for outside services.

What can you do as a parent or guardian to become engaged in your student’s progress? 

1) Set up your parent Canvas account so you can access your student’s grades and communicate with their teachers. Follow the instructions HERE.

2) Become an OBSERVER on Canvas to see your student’s grades. Learn how HERE!

3) Visit the IHS Counseling Website with your student to view parent resources and lessons about good study habits and keys to success in high school!

View our “Letter to Parents and Guardians” in your native language HERE. 

Coordinated Care Team

What do Coordinated Care Team Meetings Do: 

• Identify students who need additional support through a schoolwide referral system to ensure Tier I is implemented with fidelity and provide Tier II and Tier III level supports on an as needed basis. 

• Assess referred students, and explore strengths and supports needed. 

• Coordinate efforts to link referred students to appropriate supports by tracking progress and tailoring interventions over time. 

• Assess Tier I learning supports and needs school-wide, make recommendations about resource allocation to the administration, and recruit new resources.

What are the benefits of a Coordinated Care Team Meeting: 

• Care Team Meetings will strengthen your school’s ability to support its students holistically utilizing an MTSS framework.

• Having Care Team Meetings maximizes and expands available resources, increasing your school’s capacity to respond quickly and appropriately to a wide range of student needs and assessing Tier I supports to all students.

• With this enhanced support, more students are able to stay engaged in school and ultimately graduate healthy and successful.

• Care Team Meetings improves coordination, communication, and collaboration across providers working on behalf of students.

Who is part of the Coordinated Care Team: 

• Administrator: APTS

• Coordinator of Referrals: Social Worker

• MTSS Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA)

• Head School Counselor 

• Student Advisor (alternating staff)

• School Psychologist

• Parent & Community Involvement Specialist (PCIS)

• A representative from Community Based Organization (CBO) (especially those that are there more than 50% of the week)

• Substance Use Treatment (SUTs) Counselor (if applicable)

• Other