The Child Study Investigation Team (CSIT) is an experimental model within the Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District with the ultimate goal of preventing reading disabilities (LD) in young children, thereby decreasing special education placements.  The CSIT consists of general education and special education staff working closely together to identify the children at greatest risk of reading failure, provide appropriate research-based interventions with the needed intensity, and closely monitor the child’s progress during these interventions.  All children receiving services within the CSIT process are on a pre-referral basis and would likely require special education services in the future if interventions were not provided. 

The CSIT beliefs:

*The majority of learning disabilities can be prevented if the child receives appropriate interventions with the needed intensity EARLY.  We can no longer wait for the child to fail before beginning interventions.

*Interventions need to be child-specific and based data collected prior to and during the intervention process.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to correcting reading difficulties. 

*Progress monitoring the child’s skills throughout the interventions is essential in determining the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the intervention plan.

*Parents can and should play an active role in the intervention process.