Student Assistance Program
What is SAP?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education mandates the establishment and operation of a Student Assistance Program (SAP) in public schools. At the Bellefonte Area Middle School, the present SAP Team is made up of teachers, guidance counselors, and building administrators. The goal of Bellefonte Area Middle School SAP is to communicate with families and support students who are experiencing barriers to learning so they can reach their full potential.
The SAP Process
The SAP process at Bellefonte Area Middle School has four phases. Below is a brief description of each of those phases.
Referral: Anyone can refer a student to SAP when they are concerned about someone's behavior -- any school staff, a student's friend, a family member, or a community member. The students themselves can even go directly to the SAP Team to ask for help. Referrals can be made by submitting the online referral form.
Team Planning: Once the referral is received by the SAP Team, a member of the SAP Team is assigned to the student. This case manager then contacts the parent/guardian for permission to continue with the SAP process. If the parent/guardian is in favor of continuing the process, the case manager will begin to collect information from the student's teachers to help determine areas of concern and share the results with the parent/guardian and the SAP Team. As a team, a plan is developed to assist the student in removing the learning barrier.
Intervention and Recommendations: The plan is put into action. The SAP Team assists in linking the student to in-school and/or community-based services and activities. The SAP Team might recommend in-school supports, community supports, or further assessments.
Support and Follow-up: The SAP Team continues to work with and support the student and their family. Follow-up includes monitoring, mentoring, and motivation for academic success.
SAP is an identification, an intervention, a referral program.
SAP is not a counseling, a treatment, or a disciplinary program.
To refer a student to SAP, please contact your school counselor or fill out the online referral link that can be found below (very bottom of page).