Akers Elementary

   "Home of the Eagles"

Each year, a staff member will work with a student who seems to be bright and willing but just doesn't seem to succeed as often as anticipated. Sometimes these students begin to show frustration and may even begin to dislike a subject. This is a good example of the type of student that will be discussed at a Student StudyTeam.

We hold many Student StudyTeam sessions at Akers each year. The team is composed of the principal, the Resource Specialist Program teacher, any classroom teacher who works with a given student, the psychologist, and the parents. Sometimes a counselor, nurse, or speech therapist may also join the team.

The normal purpose of the team is to discover why a student is not succeeding at a higher rate. Often, by combining the knowledge of the team members, another technique or process can become apparent. Sometimes counseling, medical tests, academic tests, or psychological tests may be requested.

In a certain percentage of cases, it is discovered that a student has a learning handicap and thus qualifies for extra help in order to succeed in school. These students, with parental permission, may be assigned to a Resource Specialist Program teacher or to a Special Day Class teacher. In either case, an individual learning plan (IEP) will be written by the team. This plan must be approved by a parent or guardian prior to implementation.

As a result of our Student StudyTeam meetings, more students at Akers are happy at school and are progressing in their academics.