Students begin school at a designated chronological age, but differ greatly in their intellectual development and experience basis. The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is designed to serve students who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining the current academic grade level. The purpose of the Early Intervention Program is to provide additional instructional resources to help students who are performing below grade level obtain the necessary academic skills to reach grade level performance in the shortest possible time.

How did/does a student become EIP?
A student's EIP status is determined by a number of factors depending on what grade the student is entering.  Listed below are ways that a student may qualify for EIP:

Kindergarten: Students who are entering Kindergarten for the first time are administered an initial skills checklist.  This checklist is comprised of basic school readiness skills in the areas of Language Arts and Mathematics.  For example, Kindergartners are screened on knowledge of the letters of the alphabet, basic concepts of print, name recognition and writing, working with numbers, patterns, and shapes.  The State of Georgia sets specific scoring guidelines within each area to determine a score that will qualify a student to be considered EIP.

First Grade: Students who are entering First Grade and have attended Kindergarten in Georgia, may qualify as EIP by the scores provided on their GKIDS (Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills) assessment that is given during the final months of Kindergarten.  For students entering First Grade that are new to Georgia, a student may qualify as EIP through any of the following methods:
    1. EIP Checklists or Rubric
    2. County or Local Assessments such as DRAs or County Level Math Assessments
    3. RTI (Response to Intervention) Recommendation
    4. Any National or State Level Standardized Test result in which a score in the 35th percentile or below is present 

Grades 2-5: The majority of students in second grade through fifth grade can be qualified for EIP through the use of GMAS testing data.  Students who do not meet standards in the Reading or Math sections of the GMAS are qualified for EIP.  Students who have not taken the GMAS may be qualified for EIP based on results of one of the following:
    1. Local Assessments such as DRAs or County Level Math Assessments
    2. EIP Checklists or Rubrics
    3. RTI (Response to Intervention) Recommendation
    4. Any National or State Level Standardized Test result in which a score in the 35th percentile or below is present.

What Type of Teacher is an EIP teacher?
EIP teachers are certified teachers who specialize in using research-based strategies to help meet students' needs where gaps exist in the areas of Language Arts and Mathematics.

How will I know if my child is EIP?
One of the many components of the EIP program is parental involvement.  Students who qualify as EIP will receive a letter home in early September.  Parents should read the letter and sign and return it to school indicating that they are aware of their child's EIP status.  Parents have 10 school days after the receipt of the letter to schedule a meeting with their child's teacher if they would like to discuss their child's EIP status or academic performance.

If a student qualifies for EIP, will they remain EIP for the duration of their school career?

No.  Through hard work and diligence in the classroom, your student can exit the EIP program.  Your child's EIP status is evaluated yearly.  The exit criteria for EIP will depend on your child's grade level, but is often centered around the performance on standardized testing.  For Kindergartners, this would include the GKIDS assessment.  For other grades, this could include performance on the GMAS.  Students who exit the EIP program will receive a letter stating this information at the close of the school year.