Early Intervention Program (EIP) 

What is EIP?

The Early Intervention Program (EIP) serves students in grades K–5 who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade-level proficiency, as defined in the state's Early Intervention Program Guidelines. EIP aims to help students reach grade-level performance as quickly as possible.

Students may qualify for EIP in reading and/or mathematics. Henry County Schools, in conjunction with guidance from the Georgia Department of Education, has a rigorous, data-driven process for identifying students who will benefit from EIP interventions. The purpose of EIP is to address specific academic skills deficits; determining academic risk is a key component of EIP. 

How are students selected?

Students are placed in the EIP program based on a variety of ELA/Reading and Math student data, including results from local and/or state assessments, GaDOE EIP Rubrics, and/or district criteria checklists.

Program Structure

The program design is developed in coordination with regular instruction and other educational programs. Instruction provided through the Early Intervention Program must go beyond general education instruction. To address a specific academic skill, interventions and progress monitoring target the deficit, and data collection methods monitor the intervention's impact over time. The development and evaluation of the program involve teachers, administrators, and parents at the school level. The Early Intervention Program includes four components: staff, delivery models, class size, and instructional segments.

Staff

The Early Intervention Program is staffed by certified teachers with experience and expertise in teaching students with diverse needs and abilities. Early intervention funds provide additional staff and resources beyond what is provided. In K-5 schools, dedicated EIP teachers provide EIP services. 

Delivery Models

Each participating school selects the delivery model(s) to be used. Any combination of state-approved models may be used within a school, depending on the unique needs and characteristics of the students and the school. The district and state-approved models are self-contained, where the homeroom teacher serves as the EIP teacher to provide interventions within a reduced class size; augmented, where an EIP teacher pushes into the general education classroom to provide interventions to the previously identified students; pull-out, where an EIP teacher pulls a group of previously identified students out of the general education classroom to provide interventions; and innovative, where with district approval, using a certified teacher designated as an EIP teacher, schools may design a unique model to support students.

Class Size

A class for EIP must follow Class Size Rules in the GaDOE state guidance.

Instructional Segments of Service

A segment for grades K-3 is a minimum of 45 minutes daily. A segment for grades 4-5 is a minimum of 50 minutes of daily instruction. The Early Intervention Program (EIP) provides additional instructional support and resources to help students develop the academic skills needed to achieve grade-level performance in the shortest possible time. Henry County Schools implements EIP models based on the guidance provided by the Georgia Department of Education

Benefits

In addition to the Tier 1 instruction, students receiving EIP supports receive:

• Targeted intervention by a certified teacher

• Additional small group instruction

• Additional instructional research and evidence-based resources

Your Rights & Role for EIP

Your primary right is the right to be a partner and to be informed.

• Notification: Your child's teacher should be your primary point of contact. They will notify you of their concerns and let you know that your child will be receiving this extra support.

• Consent: Because EIP is a general education intervention and not special education, the school is not required to get your written consent for your child to participate. However, they must keep you informed.

• Refusal: If you have concerns about your child's participation in EIP, you should immediately schedule a meeting with the teacher to discuss your concerns and review the school's data. You may refuse this support at any time. 

EIP services vary based on the specific needs of the identified students, the school, and its staffing capacity.