Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS)

  • The responsibility for establishing, implementing and evaluating programs of I&RS is clearly centered in the general education program, rather than special education. I&RS programs are intended to be used as a primary mechanism in a school building for assisting general education staff and expanding their skills and abilities to successfully accommodate the needs of significant numbers of students in the general education program who are at risk or are experiencing difficulties.

    I&RS programs are not intended to replace traditional methods or resources for helping students to function effectively in school. They exist primarily to bring particularly difficult or repeat cases into focus using available resources in a coordinated manner.  The learning, behavior and health issues presented to the team must in some way be related to the educational process. 

    A child may be referred to I&RS if he/ she is experiencing academic, emotional, and/or be- havioral difficulties. The I&RS Team meets regularly to devise and plan and provide interventions for those students who experiencing significant academic, behavioral or emotional difficulties in the classroom.

    Please note by code that interventions in the classrooms shall be provided to students exhibiting academic difficulties and shall be utilized, as appropriate, prior to referring a student for an evaluation of eligibility for special education and related services [N.J.A.C. 6A-14-3.3(b)]. 

    If you have any questions regarding Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) at Harmony Township School, please contact Daryle Weiss, at 908-859-1001 x150.

    Taken from NJDOE I&RS Resource Manual