Response to Intervention
Overview
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a system of providing instruction to students based on need alone. RTI is based on the guidance and research of the National Reading Panel, the National Association of School Psychologists, and educational research centers across America. (For more information on these centers refer to Resource Section of this module.) This approach also attempts to ensure that all students have access to effective instruction or interventions that are based on science, not opinion or belief.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the context and purpose for which Response to Intervention was developed for educational use.
- Describe the components of Response to Intervention.
- Discuss the use of tiers in Response to Intervention.
- Name types of assessment used in education.
- Describe the purpose of evidence-based instruction for students who attend public schools.
- Identify the role of Response to Intervention for special education.
Topics
Overview
RTI is a systematic provision of services to students based on their needs at the time, without the need for special education eligibility to get the appropriate instruction they need to be successful in school.
Historical Perspectives and Context
Since the late 1970’s, researchers in psychology began to question the validity of the process to determine eligibility for learning disabilities, speech impairments and emotional disabilities leading to the current state of Response to Intervention.
Components of Response to Intervention
Response to Intervention introduced a perspective on teaching and learning that is different from the traditional approach used in schools. The differences include varied instructional settings and assessment and intervention targeted to individual student needs.
Definition/Types of Assessment
In order to fine tune instruction for the mainstream of students and for discrete populations of students, schools have relied on a variety of approaches to assessment. In the framework of RTI, all forms of student assessment have value in making educational decisions.
Tiered Instruction
No matter how wonderful general classroom instruction might become, there will always be a need for remediation. Viewing general instruction on a continuum, as opposed to the rigid lines that divide students only by grade levels, allows for more tailored instruction.
Tier 1 - General Classroom Instruction
The current elementary model for Tier 1 instruction includes a set amount of time for instruction that covers the five areas of reading previously outlined in the Evidence Based Instruction section of this module.
Tier 2 - Standard Intervention
Students who fall below the expectations for their grade levels on the oral reading or math fluency probes or the early measures of letter/sound and phoneme sequencing are assigned to Tier 2.
Tier 3 - Intensive Intervention
When student progress remains significantly below that of other students and Tier 2 interventions have not provided enough support, the student may need to move to Tier 3 for more intensive intervention.
Data Based Decisions
Rather than using standardized tests, classroom observations, teacher referrals, student support team suggestions, and parental requests; a more sophisticated system that provides direct, observational data generated by the student’s performance in relation to the academic tasks allows for more accurate assessments.
Where Does Special Education Fit In?
The service delivery model of the resource room for learning disabilities has changed considerably allowing students with disabilities to receive effective instruction across all tiers.
