The Early Intervention Program (EIP) in schools is a state-funded educational initiative designed to support students in kindergarten through fifth grade who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade-level proficiency, particularly in reading and mathematics
. Key features of EIP include:
- It provides additional, focused instruction beyond the regular classroom teaching to help students catch up academically as quickly as possible
- EIP services are typically delivered in small groups or through pull-out sessions, allowing for more individualized attention tailored to each student's specific learning gaps
- The program is supplementary and does not replace regular classroom instruction; students continue with their usual lessons and do not miss new content when attending EIP
- EIP teachers are certified educators specialized in strategies to address gaps in language arts and math skills
- Students must qualify for EIP based on assessments and must re-qualify each year; participation is not automatic
- Parents are notified if their child qualifies for EIP and are encouraged to engage with teachers to support their child's progress
The goal of EIP is to provide timely and targeted support to help students develop essential academic skills such as phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary in reading, and computational fluency and problem-solving in math, enabling them to achieve and maintain grade-level performance
. EIP is distinct from special education programs and is intended as an early, proactive intervention to prevent students from falling behind academically
. In summary, EIP is an early support program in schools aimed at helping young students who struggle academically to improve their skills in reading and math through additional, focused instruction in small groups, ensuring they can reach grade-level standards efficiently.
