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Response To Intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) is data-driven instruction that is implemented in both the general education classroom and specialized resource rooms.

It is designed to maximize the achievement of all students, regardless of where they are at within the educational framework.

response to intervention There are growing federal requirements to raise the quality of school instructional programs.

One requirement is that classroom instructional processes and academic interventions be shown to be effective as indicated by quality research.

This is particularly important with math intervention programs and early reading intervention programs. It is also used to identify and progress monitor difficulties with different types of communication in the classroom.

The purpose of response to intervention is to catch struggling students very early.

Teachers then provide high-quality instruction and academic interventions that are matched to the student's specific needs.

RTI is also used to monitor the effectiveness of behavior intervention plans and ADHD interventions.

Some key features of RTI are:

Begins with high quality instruction for all students in all classrooms (Tier 1)
It is designed to be both preventative and proactive
Uses assessment in education (data) to drive decision making
Is highly dependent on progress monitoring that begins with a universal screener of all students
Academic interventions are systematically applied from research and evidence-based best practices
Intervention plans are designed, implemented and monitored by a group of professionals

Response to intervention (RTI) has been around in one form or another for years. The difference now is that educators have to be more accountable and show that we are using data-driven instructional best practices and that we are implementing them consistently and with integrity. That's not a bad thing.

Be cautious though, that you do not get so caught up in data that you forget the child!

I just read a book by Mary Howard about RTI. It is must read for any teacher struggling with how to implement all of the new guidelines required with response to intervention.

How To Use Response To Intervention

A common use of RTI is to target reading intervention needs. Response to Intervention: Reading Strategies that Work gives teachers the tools to implement early reading interventions that are critical for success.

After giving a universal screener (such as DIBELS), the data is reviewed and decisions are made, often within a 3 Tier Model.

The 3 Tier Model

The 3 Tier Model for response to intervention is a by-product of differentiation in the classroom. In order to do RTI effectively, teachers have to have a strong knowledge in Differentiation and Assessment in Education.

Tier 1
*This is excellent classroom teaching
*80-90% of students should have their needs met in Tier 1
*90 minutes of core instruction per day - every day!
*Data indicates students need enrichment, are below expected benchmark, or are progressing as expected

Tier 2
*5-10% of all students may need Tier 2 interventions
*90 minutes core instruction + 25-30 additional minutes of targeted intense research/evidence-based interventions
*Small group (ratio of 1:5 or less)
*Progress monitoring - minimum bi-weekly

Tier 3
*1-5% of all students who continue to fall below the aim line after receiving Tier 2 interventions
*90 minutes core instruction + 50 additional minutes per day of targeted intense research/evidence-based interventions
*Very small, homogenous group instruction (1:3)
*Progress monitoring - minimum weekly

After Tier 3 is when the professional team will review documented interventions and progress monitoring data to determine if there is a need for an MFE (multi-factored evaluation) for a specific disability. In most cases, there should be at least 12 weeks worth of data that show little to no growth along the expected aim line. Be aware that the pattern of the student's progress can also indicate attention problems as well as reading issues.

The goal of RTI is not to get a child into special education. It is to meet that child's needs and show growth.

Tiered Reading Interventions and evidence-based reading intervention strategies that can be used for RTI.

These can all be implemented based on data gathered through DIBELS, AIMSWeb, or PALS universal screenings.

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