The Building-Based Student Support Team

BBSST 2007 FACTS

Beauregard High School 2007-2008

The Building-Based Student Support Team (BBSST) is a mandated result of Lee vs. Macon.  The BBSST is comprised of administrators, regular educators, guidance counselors, and the teacher requesting support (if this is the given situation).  The BBSST is not a guarantee of promotion, making the honor roll, or passing the graduation exam.  It is a guarantee that a student will be given every consideration and accommodation that staff can offer as an opportunity for success.  The BBSST is not for AP classes, honors classes, gifted classes, magnet classes, 504, or SPED.  Teacher and parents may refer general education at-risk students to the BBSST for assistance; however, the BBSST is not the "magic" answer.  Student responsibility and parent responsibility are major factors in student success.  Inappropriate referrals to the BBSST will be rejected.  Excessive absenteeism is an example of an inappropriate referral.

According to the Alabama State Department of Education Prevention and Support Services, the purpose for BBSST is to provide immediate, short-term aid through a BBSST plan for students in  general education that are at risk of school failure academically and/or behaviorally.  The BBSST plan provides intervention strategies that are implemented in the general education classroom.  Plans run 40-50 school days.  After implementation, plans are evaluated for effectiveness and suggestions are made for future recommendations.

The rationale for 40-50 day plan length is as follows:

• There is a 40-day (8 weeks) minimum requirement for prereferral strategies by special Education through IDEA and the Alabama Administrative Code.  These laws also require progress monitoring and formative evaluation Practices during this prereferral period (BBSST responsibility).  The team reviews and monitors the individual plans to determine effectiveness; an additional period of 50 classroom days (or 10 weeks) is allowed for calendar and/or scheduling needs.
• It is recommended that BBSST review the student's progress mid-plan for effectiveness of strategies which coordinates with progress report time.  This is not required, however, and there is no paperwork attached to this checkpoint.
• Without a guideline requirement of a 40-50 day checkpoint, students could be assigned a plan for an entire school year, or longer, with no real review/monitoring of progress.  A scheduled plan review provides ensurance that the student is monitored, and also provides documentation for accountability.
• All BBSST plans must be reviewed (revised or amended) and end by 50 days, with the option for subsequent plans.  The referring teacher meets with the BBSST team at the end of the plan and reports on the progress of the student.  It is a team decision to decide if a new plan is needed, or whether current plan strategies could be continued by the teacher and slowly tapered off throughout the remainder of the school year without having a formal BBSST plan monitored by the team.  Strategies in the plans are best teaching practices that can be used as the teacher sees a need.
• If teams do not meet on a regular schedule (monthly) to review, revise, and/or release teachers from plans, it is conceivable that a large part of the entire student enrollment could end up on a BBSST plan at the same time.  The purpose or intent of BBSST plans is to give struggling students a chance to refocus and catch up through an intense, short-term process.

If you have any questions, please email Mr. James Moore at moore.james@lee.k12.al.us for more information.