The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. The primary goal of SAP is to help students overcome learning barriers to be able to achieve, advance, and remain in school. While SAP exists in other areas of the country, the structure and operation of the program in Pennsylvania is a unique expression of an integrated model serving the needs of Pennsylvania families and students.

The SAP team is comprised of professionally trained school staff and liaisons from community agencies and partnerships. SAP team members are trained to identify students facing challenges and to make recommendations to support students and their families.  If a student is identified as needing SAP team assistance, a SAP referral is made.  With parent/guardian consent, the SAP team can refer a student to in-house school supports and/or community-based referrals.  These referrals could be support for, but not limited to:

• Mental health

• Truancy 

• Drug/alcohol 

• Social/emotional 

• Case management

 SAP teams do not diagnose or treat mental health or substance use disorders. SAP team members can refer a student, with parent/guardian consent, to a liaison who may screen or assess for further community-based services and support.