Promising improvements of the SST Process.
Prior to placing a student in a special education program, a full and individualized evaluation of the student's educational needs must be conducted. The Student Success Team process was first established in the early eighties in California by the Special Education Resources Network. It is now implemented in most districts in California. The Student Study/Success Team (SST) is a group of people at a school who utilize a problem-solving approach in an attempt to help students to be more successful in school, at home, and in the community. The team meets at the school and thoroughly reviews individual student's strengths and weaknesses. The SST often includes the family, classroom teacher and principal. Others who may know the student, who can support the team, such as the student advisor, resources teacher, speech and language specialist, school psychologist or mental health specialist, may also be present. .
There are several important functions of the SST. The SST can support students, their families and the classroom teachers. In addition the SST accesses resources and services in the school, the district, and the community, such as parent organizations, academic tutoring, after-school and summer activity programs, or counseling services for students and/or families. Most importantly, it is not only a general education pre-referral program that identifies disabilities, but it is a tool to prevent a disability. The purpose of the SST is to recommend modifications to the general education program, if interventions are unsuccessful, referral for an individualized education plan may be made. A student who is achieving less than her potential, is academically below grade level, or whose behavior at school has negative impact on her academic or social development may be an at-risk student. The SST intervenes as early as possible when concerns arise as a preventative tool.
