By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Biddeford educators say a new district-wide plan will help earlier identify underachieving students and better address their needs.

Assistant Superintendent Jeff Porter said the plan is a process to ensure underachievement is not due to lack of instruction and students are placed in special education programs for the right reasons.

The plan is a four-step process will identify and analyze a student’s problem, implement interventions and evaluate intervention methods, Porter said.

The Biddeford School Committee unanimously approved the RTI plan at its Nov. 24 meeting. The plan is required under the No Child Left Behind and Individual With Disabilities Education Improvement acts and must be partially implemented by July 2010.

Principal Paulette Bonneau of the JFK Kindergarten Center said RTI is a general education initiative that is grounded in scientific teaching and assessment methods that are used with all students. The plan is not a special education program, but is designed to “close the gap” between students, she said.

Bonneau said the plan does not wait for students to fail because it allows teachers to address math, reading and behavioral difficulties as soon as they are identified. Under the old model, staff had to wait for two years of a child failing before intervening, she said.

“Two years is a long time for a child to be failing before we have intervention,” she said.

Bonneau said the implementation of the new plan requires a change in thinking.

“Not all students with disabilities need special education service. Not all students who are struggling have disabilities,” she said.

Bonneau said it is important to get students help as soon as they begin struggling because it is “not a life sentence.” The earlier support services are offered, the less intense they need to be, she said. The plan is a “seamless” system that includes three tiers of intensity for addressing needs in and out of the classroom, she said.

Mary Capobianco, the district assessment and program coordinator, said the plan establishes a universal benchmark system that allows all students to be evaluated based on certain standards. A universal screening will be used to provide baseline data for all students, along with additional checkpoints throughout the year, she said. Screening will include standardized tests already given in the district.

Capobianco said teachers and other school staff will work closely to watch students for signs they are struggling. Teachers will develop plans to address needs of students who need intervention and then monitor student progress, she said.

Biddeford Intermediate School Principal Deb Kenney said “teamwork is key” to make the plan work. She said teachers will meet regularly to talk about students. She said everyone – from classroom teachers to special education specialists – have a role to play in the process of identifying and helping students.

School committee member Cynthia McSorely said her child “benefited greatly” from the program and was brought back up to grade level in a short period of time. Her son needed help with letter recognition but he did not need special education services.

“It was successful for my child,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience for him.”

Porter said a committee comprised of administrators, teachers and parents developed the plan during the past year.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.