What Are Intervention Assistance Teams?

 Intervention Assistance Teams, or IATs, are groups of teachers, administrators, and other support personnel who work together to help solve student concerns. These concerns can range beyond academic issues to behavioral difficulties or struggles in communicating appropriately with peers.

 What Does an IAT Do?

 Most school-based IAT groups work through a sequence of problem-solving steps in order to develop a plan of action that addresses the concern(s) for the student being referred. Generally, the Team reviews what actions have already been taken on behalf of the student and discuss what additional options might exist. Often the options include the use of "evidence-based" instructional practices, or strategies, that have been designed, and are used, for specific types of weaknesses. 

 How Do I Find Out More About "Evidence-Based Interventions"?

 There are many excellent sites that discuss evidence-based practices and interventions on the internet. The links to the left will provide most interested users with a reasonable sample of the introductory materials available. The PDF documents on the left will also provide stand alone information that may be used by IAT groups to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their practices. Our express thanks are given to Dr. Kathy McNamara, of Cleveland State University, for the "Evidence-Based Interventions" packet she made available to us.