SPECIAL SERVICES
All students are viewed as capable of succeeding. Seven Hills provides the necessary supportive environments to foster student success.
These supports come in several forms. We seek to challenge each student through their individual abilities and, in line with our vision, we are dedicated to bringing each child up to and beyond (when possible) grade level. With our simultaneous attention to programming and student needs, we provide temporary learning interventions, remediation, enrichment courses, special education, and address gifted and talented needs.
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If students are struggling academically, they are promptly identified for remedial support services by a variety of data and assessments. Data is analyzed from the MCAs, Interim Assessments, QRIs, Reading benchmark assessments, and Singapore or other math pre-tests. Students are assessed quarterly on the interim assessments, and placed in groups for specialized assistance for targeted instruction that are reviewed regularly. As these are fluid and flexible groupings, remedial support shifts throughout the year. Strategies for student assistance include, but are not limited to, grouping students through regular assessments, providing layered support in reading and math with added instruction time to support those students in remediation, communicating goals and progress to parents, and assignments for skills practice.
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For Math and Literacy, at the elementary level, we have a Tier, 1, 2, and 3 system. Tier 1 students receive their math and literacy instruction from their classroom teacher; through evidence based assessments it is determined that they do not need interventions, at this time. However, we monitor this frequently and adjust student tiers to best serve the individual student. Students requiring additional interventions in math or literacy will be assigned to Tiers 2 or 3. Tier 2 students are assisted in a small group instruction environment by Literacy or Math Specialist. Tier 3 is for the more challenged student, and the instruction with a Literacy or Math Specialist is a 1:1 basis (group size may be vary due to student schedules and staffing).Students in Tiers 2 and 3 will receive interventions that seek to advance skills and knowledge in specific areas of deficiencies. These areas are identified using research based assessments (listed above), teacher input, and state standardized tests (MCAs). The specialists then crafts lessons to improve student proficiency in literacy or math skills and state standards.
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The system for interventions at the middle school is very similar to that of the elementary school. However, the delivery of interventions is somewhat different. Students are identified through various assessments and teacher observations and are frequent and on-going.
Students who would need interventions in Literacy will meet with our Literacy Specialist during morning Advisory time or their study hall periods. The Literacy Specialist will also “push-in” to many of our classes to provide supports to our struggling scholars in real time. Finally, the Literacy Specialists delivers literacy skills and instruction to all SHPA students by directing and coordinating our Language Connections courses (each student takes this course one trimester per academic year).
Our Math interventions take place during an identified student’s study hall period. Two of our math teachers provide interventions to scholars based on their individual needs and gaps in their math knowledge or skills. These interventionists work closely with the classroom teachers to provide feedback on their students. This feedback helps math instructors develop lesson plans that incorporate Targeted Group Instruction that maximizes the effectiveness of the classroom teacher based on the individual’s needs.
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These interventions are funded in part through the Title 1 grant offered to SHPA through the Minnesota Department of Education (education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/ESEA/parta/). We believe that a crucial part to student success is parental and family involvement. Please, see the calendar below for ways to become involved with our Title 1 program at SHPA. If your child receives Title 1 services you will receive more information from their teacher about this programming. Feel free to contact any of our Math or Literacy Specialists or Kate Docken (kdocken@shpamn.org) with any questions you may have about our interventions or Title 1 programming.
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Parent Involvement Committee will meet to revise the SHPA district family engagement policy/plan annually during our SHPA Civitas Fair, held each spring. Families with participating Title I students will be invited to attend this meeting and join the Parent Involvement Committee to provide feedback on their experience with Title I programming at SHPA. At this meeting the SHPA parents and staff will revise the family engagement plan to address the needs of the district, jointly develop the Title I plan, and plan for the use of Title monies.
Parents, families, and community-based organizations are invited to attend this important meeting. If you are interested in attending and would like more details, please contact Kate Docken kdocken@shpamn.org.
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Seven Hills is continually looking to form meaningful and impactful partnerships with community-based organizations, non-profits, and local education advocacy groups to help plan effective parent and community engagement activities, such as our Civitas Fair. SHPA works with the Richfield and Bloomington Chamber of Commerce to identify possible partnerships. This school year we look forward to hosting a community engagement night with Richfield’s mayor, Maria Regan Gonzalez. Who will present on the Latinx population and how their perspective and experience is so crucial and valued to our school and community. We hope events like this and others will continue to help us build and maintain strategic relationships with typically underserved communities.
If you are involved in a community-based organization that you believe would be able to help us foster these relationships, please contact Ryan Grutsch rgrutsch@shpamn.org.
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To see the calendar click HERE.
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The Special Education department implements programs that assist all students who are eligible for services according to Minnesota eligibility criteria. According to Minnesota statutes, a child with a disability means a child identified under federal and state special education law as having a hearing impairment, blindness, visual disability, speech or language impairment, physical disability, other health impairment, mental disability, emotional/behavioral disorder, specific learning disability, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, a deaf or blind disability who needs special education and related services. Once a child has been evaluated and identified as meeting these criteria, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is created based on the student’s individual learning needs. The IEP team works collaboratively throughout the school year to ensure the student is making adequately yearly progress. This team meets regularly to update the student’s learning goals and objectives.
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SPHA supports students for whom English is not their first language. These supports assist them to be successful with our programming and academic model. Our English language learners are native speakers of more than 50 languages or dialects, including Hmong, Somali, Spanish, Polish, Indian dialects, Vietnamese, and Russian. Our EL programming at SHPA is funded in part through the Title III grant offered through the Minnesota Department of Education (education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/ESEA/t3/)