Q and A

What is Basic Skills?

Basic Skills is a push in/pull out program designed to provide instruction to students who need additional support in Reading, Writing and Math. We pull out/push in during their Language Arts and Math time depending on the area of need.


What are the goals of the program?

  • The goals of the program is to develop the basic skills necessary to be successful in everyday life according to each students individual ability
  • Help students develop positive attitudes towards themselves and their school community
  • To insure a continual means of communication between parents, teachers and students


How often do we meet with the students?

How often we meet with the students depends on what grade they are in and what subject we provide support in. We see them up to 2 hours per week for Reading and 1.5 hours per week for Math with 1st and 2nd graders. For 3rd through 5th grade, we meet up to 1.5 hours per week in Reading and Writing and up to 1 hour per week for Writing and Math.


How does a student qualify?

If the teacher is concerned about a students academic progress, he/she will reach out to a basic skills teacher for their input. We will give the student an assessment and look at the assessments in the classroom as well. From there, we will determine if the child qualifies for services and reach out to the parents with the results. If the student qualifies, we may need to have an I&RS.


What is an I&RS?

I&RS stands for Intervention and Referral Services which is a brainstorming meeting discussing how we can further help the child succeed inside and outside of the classroom. This meeting includes a group of professionals (the child's teacher, Achieve teacher, principal and guidance counselor) and the child's parents if they are able to attend. The team meets throughout the year, but the amount of times met depends on the child's progress.


How do I know how my child is doing in the program?

We work with the teachers to craft the comments on the report card as well as administer their grades. In addition, you can contact the Achieve teacher via email or by phone any time and the teacher will get back to you as soon as possible.