Intervention & Referral Services

I&RS is required by NJ Administrative Code 6A: 16‐8.1. District boards of education shall establish and implement a coordinated system in each school building for planning and delivering of intervention and referral services that are designed to assist students who are experiencing learning, behavior, or health difficulties and to assist staff, who have difficulty addressing a student’s learning, behavior, or health needs. District boards of education shall choose the appropriate multidisciplinary team approach for planning and delivering the services required under this subchapter.

Interventions in the general education setting 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. The staff of the general education program shall maintain written documentation, including data setting forth the types of interventions utilized, the frequency and duration of each intervention, and the effectiveness of each intervention.

Team members vary depending on need, but typically include an administrator, school Nurse, school counselor, social worker, instructional staff members, and a member of the Child Study Team. The goal of the team is to attend to referrals made to the team through careful identification and implementation of interventions as needed.