The Student Intervention Monitoring System (SIMS) is a software program designed to monitor interventions and help educators provide additional support for children who are not learning. Created by the Madison Metropolitan School District with support from the Department of Public Instruction, this electronic tool contains interventions selected to individualize support for students. An emphasis has been placed on early intervening services to remove barriers to learning and to promote student success. SIMS is a systematic way to share information between teachers and to monitor student progress over time. This tool can be used to promote dialogue around student needs amongst teams of educators.
While the tool is currently populated with interventions strategies for attendance, behavior, language arts, and mathematics, the content should be customized to fit the instructional framework of an individual district. There is no single way to use SIMS. Initial use of SIMS may look different in each district depending on readiness and district needs.
Resources
- To learn more about SIMS, watch this short informational video. A video transcript is available.
- Your district may also find it helpful to use this self assessment tool for Response to Intervention to decide whether SIMS may be right for you.
- These screen shots can also be helpful for presenting SIMS to groups.
- A demonstration site demonstration site for the Student Intervention Monitoring System is available. Log-in information is available on the left side of the screen (use Madison demo).
Benefits
Districts using SIMS have seen an increase in their ability to support and document collaborative conversations. This tool promotes dialogue around student needs amongst teaching teams, pupil services staff, and administration. SIMS can be used as a possible framework to connect district professional development around equity issues, Professional Learning Communities, Early Intervening Services, Response to Intervention, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Data Retreats, and more. Additionally, during the interceding years since development of this tool began, SIMS has helped user districts respond to the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and Adequate Yearly Progress, the reauthorization of IDEA 2004 (EIS, RtI, and Progress Monitoring) and Disproportionality.
SIMS Pilot for WI CESAs & Districts
During the spring of 2009 the Student Intervention Monitoring System was piloted by five CESAs (2, 3, 5, 6 & 9), who partnered with districts in their region (Marshall, Wisconsin Rapids, Lodi, Ripon, Hortonville, Rhinelander, and Beloit). The pilot sessions were conducted primarily by staff from Madison and were a helpful process for recognizing the degree of training and support needed for districts adopting SIMS.
Statewide Availability of SIMS
Training on the SIMS tool for CESA representative is scheduled for Oct 27 & 28 in Middleton, WI at the Edgewood College Deming Way Campus. Interested CESAs should contact Chuck Pursell at pursellc@cesa5.k12.wi.us Interested districts may seek SIMS training from their local CESA for $1500 for a four person team.
Open Source Users’ Group
SIMS was created in an open source environment. While there are no fees for the SIMS software, participating CESAs/districts should become involved in the statewide users’ group designed to provide mutual support and identify potential upgrades to the system. Since a centralized, statewide hosting service will be provided, a professional learning community will be established to discuss both programmatic and technical use of SIMS.
For further information about SIMS in Wisconsin:
For questions about this page, contact Jennifer Wegner (608) 266-2348.
Last updated on 9/29/2009 1:44:55 PM
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