Student Support Team (SST) - Overview of the Student Support Team Process 

It is important to know that Georgia Student Support teams had their origin in a federal lawsuit known as Marshall vs. Georgia (1984). It dealt primarily with disproportionate placement of minority students in Special Education. While the state prevailed in this case, a shortcoming in Georgia education became obvious: there was no standard process for students to obtain individualized help in the regular classroom for learning or behavior difficulties. Instead, the route to such help usually led to placement in Special Education, often involving removal from the general classroom. 

As part of its commitment to federal court to remedy technical violations found in the trial, the State of Georgia mandated that a Student Support Team would be established in every Georgia public school, K-12. The court accepted this commitment, thereby making the SST mandate a permanent injunction. Below is the exact text of the state’s commitment regarding SST teams.

“A. Student Support Teams 

“Each local agency shall develop a Student Support Team. The Student Support Team 
is a joint effort of regular education and special education to identify and plan alternative 
instructional strategies for children prior to or in lieu of a special education referral. Each building level team is comprised of such persons as administrator, classroom teacher, requesting teacher, special education teacher, counselor, school psychologist, special 
education resource person, school social worker or central office personnel. Parental involvement is also a critical part of the Student Support Team process. 
“This interdisciplinary group which plans for modification in a student’s education program shall engage in a six step process to include: (1) identification of needs, (2) assessment, if necessary, (3) educational plan, (4) implementation, (5) follow-up and support, and (6) continuous monitoring and evaluation. The Student Support Team functions under the auspices of regular education curriculum services and is based upon the child study team concept. 
“Requests for service for the student from the Student Support Team may include curriculum modification, learning style assessment, behavior management techniques, achievement evaluation, home-school communication, or study skill assistance. Requests for special education services may also be made. Prior to consideration for special education referral, non-special education options should be considered, interventions used, documented, described, and discussed at the special education placement meeting. In limited instances, initial referral to the Student Support Team prior to special education referral will not be necessary. These cases are those in which the necessity for special education is so clear that use of non-special education options would be non-productive or harmful to the child. In those cases where initial referral is not to the Student Support Team, the reasons therefor will be documented.”

Tier 3 Coordinators

Hubbard Elementary - Ashley Allen
KB Sutton Elementary -  Melissa Smith
TG Scott Elementary - Valerie Jackson
Monroe County Middle - Georgia Karr and Christina Rogers
MPFC - Holly Hamlin
Mary Persons High - Reye McLuen, Sher Strode
Monroe County Achievement Center - Hannah Fleckenstein

For additional information: 
​​​​State Board Rule for Student Support Teams​
Student Support Team (SST) Structure and Process Manual 2019
​Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Student Support Teams​​
FERPA Guidelines
Georgia Department of Education