SemsTracker

For the past three years this department has used SemsTracker ( www.semstracker.com ) as its IEP and data management program. It is a web-based application that allows teachers to complete IEP's, BIP's, transition plans and other required reports from their school site or any other site where there is internet access. At the central office level, the administrators can review progress on IEP's, manage evaluation/re-evaluation data of referred students, manage caseloads, compile reports for the state department or other professionals and can even transfer the special education records of students who move to another semstracker system within the state of Georgia. It promises to move record-keeping and file maintenance to another level!

GA DOE- November 2010

Certificate for Meeting State Target

GA DOE- November 2007

Certificate for Meeting State Target

RTI implementation continues to move steadily along and, as of the 2010-2011 school year, school-specific guides have been completed and put in place for all schools.  As a result, initial referrals to Student Services have been significantly reduced and those that have come through have been very relevant.  Much of the work has been re-focused from the "end" result of an evaluation and placement to appropriate early intervention to reduce the need for special education services.

The implementation process began in August of 2007 when an initial overview was provided regarding RTI and as the manuals were completed, 3 one-hour training sessions were rolled out to teachers, counselors and school administrators in small groups at each school. The teachers were trained on the process, progress monitoring, interventions, and the behavioral component of RTI. As the year progressed, technical assistance on interventions, behavioral management and progress monitoring techniques was provided on individual students by the initial District RTI team. 

During the following school years, RTI implementation was expanded significantly to include universal screening and progress monitoring with Aimsweb, a web-based management system that includes CBM-style assessments. Also, a gradual roll out of the EBIS system (Effective Behavioral and Instructional Support)was implemented in several of our schools. EBIS is a school-wide positive behavioral support system that has been consistently shown to reduce office discipline referrals. It is intended to be a global Tier 1 intervention and has a primary focus on the teaching, recognizing and rewarding of socially appropriate decision-making and behaviors.  Recently, the system has been researching additional web-based behavioral intervention programs that will potentially add tiered options for teachers to use with students as a part of the Positive Behaviour Intervention and Support (PBIS) and RTI initiatives.

For further information about how RTI is being implemented in Burke County please contact Gray Kicklighter ( gkicklig@burke.k12.ga.us ), Chiquida Brinson (cbrinson@burke.k12.ga.us) or Ashlee Earley (aearley@burke.k12.ga.us).