Response to Intervention

What is RTI?

Tectonic Shift in General Ed vs. Special Ed Responsibilities

Resources for RTI

Although few could argue with the theory behind RTI, the practical implications of its effect on how schools and educators operate are far from realized, given its relatively new appearance on the education scene.

National:

In a move to provide technical assistance to schools in implementing RTI, a newly created National Center on Response to Intervention was formed, which is funded by a five-year, $14.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Additionally, the RTI Action Network, sponsored by the National Center for Learning Disabilities, offers assistance to educators at the school level.

As RTI becomes more of a major practice by schools, time will tell whether the theory behind the method and the reality of its usefulness in assessing student eligibility for special education actually coincide.

It is important to note that the law does not require school districts to use RTI. In fact, it only requires states to allow districts to use a process based on the child’s response to scientific, research-based intervention.

Texas allows districts to continue to instead use a severe-discrepancy model if the district so chooses.

USDE RTI multi-tier intervention in primary grades (see RTI Reading below)

Center on Instruction/Grades 6-12 Resources

State:

List of RTI interventions that can be implemented by teachers and staff other than teachers: Florida Center for Reading Research

Writing interventions: American Occupational Therapy Association

Math interventions/Reading: Best Evidence Encyclopedia

National Association of State Directors of Special Education