Merriam Avenue School

• Who: K-4 students in the Newton Public School District receive Tier 1 learning support. Students with IEPs may be educated in the general education classroom receiving the same Tier 1 academic support as general education students with the supports and services in their IEPs if the IEP team determines that is the appropriate placement.

• What: Tier 1 involves the implementation of high-quality instruction within the general education classroom.

• Where: Classroom teachers deliver Tier 1 level of instruction through high-quality instructional strategies and the following models:

  • Small-group instruction 

  • Whole-class instruction

  • Culturally-responsive instruction

  • One-to-one conferring 

  • Designated academic assistance/enrichment programs

• Who: All K-4 students in the Newton Public School District receive Tier 1 social and emotional support. Students with IEPs may be educated in the general education classroom receiving the same Tier 1 social-emotional support as general education students with the supports and services in their IEPs if the IEP team determines that is the appropriate placement.

• What: In Grades K-4, whole-class Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies are taught and reinforced within the Health & PE curriculum and by school-based counselors in addition to the following programs:

  • Second Step

  • Footprints of Life

  • School of Character

  • Center for Prevention & Counseling (CFPC)

  • Choose to Connect (after-school program)

• Where: Tier 1 support can be administered in the general education classroom by the classroom teacher, in-class support teacher, guidance counselor, or social worker.

• Who: K-4 students who are not making adequate progress within Tier 1 are provided with targeted intervention and support (Tier 2)

• What: In Tier 2 for K-4, the classroom teacher plans and sets goals at Tier 2 based on ongoing monitoring and student needs. These groups are flexible and students may exit in and out as needed.

• Where: Small-group instruction/intervention is provided in the general education classroom by the classroom teacher. 

• How: In K-4, the academic instructional staff uses the universal screener i-Ready and classroom assessment data to determine whether a student requires Tier 2 intervention. Individual needs and the building schedule will dictate the frequency and duration of these interventions. At the end of each cycle, progress is reviewed to determine whether to exit, continue, or refer for Tier 3. 

• Who: K-4 students who need more targeted support to meet their social-emotional needs

• What: Tier 2 supports are provided in addition to Tier 1 supports. Tier 2 support for K-4 students involves remedial responses to Code of Conduct issues, function-based problem-solving, and assistance from the guidance counselor via a lunch group and individual counseling with the social worker. Tier 2 reinforcements may occur within social skills groups with peers and the social-emotional program Footprints for Life. Outside agencies that provide Tier 2 support for K-4 students include:

• The Center for Prevention & Counseling

• Center for Evaluation & Counseling (CEC)

• Youth Advocate Programs (YAP)

• Family Partners of Morris & Sussex

• Ginnie's House Children's Advocacy Center

• Perform Care of NJ

• Project Self Sufficiency (PSS)

• Where: Social skills and group sessions are provided outside of the general education classroom.

• How: In K-4, the social-emotional support staff uses the universal screener DESSA-mini to determine whether a student requires Tier 2 intervention. Skill-based lunch groups are provided for identified students based on DESSA-mini results. Individual needs and the building schedule will dictate the frequency and duration of SEL interventions. At the end of each cycle, progress is reviewed to determine whether to exit, continue, or refer for Tier 3.

• Who: K-4 students who have not made adequate progress within Tier 2 and/or who demonstrate the need for intensive individualized intervention

• What: Within Tier 3, students receive intensive and individualized intervention and support. The staff implements Tier 3 intervention and support in addition to Tier 1 and Tier 2. 

• Where: The academic staff supplies Tier 3 interventions and supports to the individual student outside of the general education classroom after the delivery of core instruction. 

• How: In K-4, when a child screens in for Tier 3, they will receive academic support from an intervention teacher in the area where the need exists. Accordingly, the interventionist will create goals based on the assessment data. While working with the student, the intervention teacher will determine if sufficient progress has been made. Individual needs will determine the frequency and duration of the interventions but typically occur 3-5 days/per week.

  • If the child is determined to not be making adequate progress after a certain amount of time, a referral may be made to the I&RS team. As such, a meeting will occur.

  • Based on relevant and available data presented at this meeting, an individualized action plan may be created to address and remediate the area of concern. This plan is monitored over a period of time and may be modified, enhanced, or discontinued as indicated by the needs of the student involved.

• Who: K-4 students who have not made adequate progress within Tier 2 support or whose behavioral/social-emotional needs created barriers to learning and/or performance in social settings

• What: Within Tier 3, the K-4 students receive individual counseling sessions with the guidance counselor, school nurse, social worker, or identified counseling staff member. The social-emotional support staff provides Tier 3 support in addition to Tier 1 and Tier 2 reinforcement.

• Where: Pull-out small group instruction is delivered by an intervention teacher or specialist, with frequent progress monitoring. While Tier 3 support typically occurs within the building but may also be provided outside the school district in partnership with other agencies. Outside agencies that provide Tier 3 support for K-4 students include:

  • The Center for Prevention & Counseling

  • Center for Evaluation & Counseling (CEC)

  • Youth Advocate Programs (YAP)

  • Atlantic Behavioral Health Crisis Intervention

  • Family Intervention Services

  • Department of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P)

  • Family Partners of Morris & Sussex

  • Ginnie's House Children's Advocacy Center

  • Project Self Sufficiency (PSS)

• How: In K-4, when a child screens in for Tier 3, they will receive social-emotional support from an intervention teacher in the area where the need exists.  Accordingly, the interventionist will create goals based on the assessment data. While working with the student, the intervention teacher will determine if the student has made sufficient progress. Individual needs will determine the frequency and duration of the interventions but typically occur 3-5 days/per week.

  • If determined that the child has not made adequate progress after a certain amount of time, a referral may be made to the I&RS team. As such, a meeting will occur.

  • Based on relevant and available data presented at this meeting, an individualized action plan may be created to address and remediate the area of concern. This plan is monitored over a period of time and may be modified, enhanced, or discontinued as indicated by the needs of the student involved.

Eligibility for Tier 3 is rescreened at the start of each school year.