Basic Skills Instruction

What is the Basic Skills Instruction Program (BSI)?

Basic Skills instruction is an academic intervention program for students who are struggling to meet grade level expectations in English   Language Arts and Mathematics . As the middle tier of the RTI (Response to Intervention) national model, students receive specialized   instruction both in their regular classroom and in a small-group setting to strengthen their literacy and math skills. Students in Margate receive basic skills instruction that is partially funded by  Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

What Children are Included in BSI Programs?
All New Jersey students in grades 3-8 must be assessed in Mathematics and English Language Arts each year to determine if they are meeting grade level expectations. The results of these assessments can be used in determining which students are in need of services in basic skills improvement. Younger children who have been identified as having difficulty making normal educational progress in these areas are also eligible for this program. 

The Margate City Public School district uses multiple measures of assessment, including standardized test scores,  curriculum-based formal and informal classroom assessments, and classroom performance based on teacher observations covering a variety of academic performance areas including reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics skills.

How Does the BSI Program Work?
In the middle school, students receive additional daily support within their scheduled ELA and/or math classroom by a qualified co-teacher or paraprofessional. The BSI program in the elementary school provides in-class support as well as pull-out supplemental instruction in the elementary school. Depending upon the needs of the student, the basic skills teacher will meet with the student three to five times a week. The  basic skills teacher supports the classroom teacher’s curriculum to provide continuity of instruction while remediating student deficiencies. 

Parents will receive regular updates regarding their child’s progress through report cards, interim progress reports, and parent/teacher conferences. Throughout the school year, students who participate in the program will be monitored to determine progress and will either continue or exit the program.