Response to Intervention process used in K-12 education to address the needs of struggling and diverse learners. Include the purpose, the process, the role of the teacher, and the role of the parents/families in the process.
Ensuring Fair and Equitable Assessment Practices
Full Answer Section
- Provide High-Quality Instruction and Support: To ensure all students receive research-based, effective instruction in general education classrooms, and that interventions are evidence-based and matched to student needs.
- Monitor Student Progress: To systematically track student progress and response to interventions, using data to make informed decisions about instructional adjustments and placement.
- Promote Collaboration: To foster collaboration among teachers, specialists, administrators, and parents to support student learning.
The RtI Process (Multi-Tiered System of Support - MTSS)
RtI typically operates on a multi-tiered system of support (often 3 tiers), where the intensity of intervention increases with each tier. Tier 1: Universal Core Instruction (All Students)- Description: This is the foundation of the RtI framework, encompassing high-quality, research-based instruction delivered to all students in the general education classroom. It includes effective differentiation to meet varied learning styles and needs.
- Activities:
- Implementing a robust, evidence-based core curriculum.
- Utilizing universal screening assessments (e.g., benchmark assessments, DIBELS, AIMSweb) 2-3 times per year to identify students at risk.
- Providing differentiated instruction and flexible grouping within the classroom.
- Maintaining a positive classroom environment with clear behavioral expectations.
- Data Collection: Universal screening data, classroom assessments, behavior checklists.
- Description: For students who are identified through universal screening or classroom data as being at moderate risk or showing some difficulty with Tier 1 instruction. These interventions are provided in small groups (e.g., 3-6 students), in addition to the core instruction.
- Activities:
- Specific, targeted interventions focusing on identified skill deficits (e.g., phonics intervention, math computation practice, social skills group).
- Interventions are typically delivered for a defined period (e.g., 8-12 weeks) and focus on specific, measurable goals.
Sample Answer
Response to Intervention (RtI) is a multi-tier approach to providing early, high-quality instruction and interventions to students who are struggling academically or behaviorally. It's a proactive framework designed to identify and support students as soon as they begin to struggle, preventing the need for more intensive, and often more costly, interventions later on, such as special education placement. RtI is particularly vital for addressing the diverse learning needs within K-12 education.Purpose of Response to Intervention (RtI)
The primary purposes of the RtI process are:- Early Identification and Intervention: To identify students who are at risk of academic or behavioral difficulties as early as possible and provide immediate, targeted support to prevent them from falling further behind.
- Reduce Inappropriate Referrals to Special Education: To ensure that learning or behavioral problems are not simply due to a lack of appropriate instruction. By providing increasingly intensive interventions within general education, RtI aims to reduce the number of students mistakenly identified as having a learning disability, ensuring that special education services are reserved for students who truly need them.
- Provide High-Quality Instruction and Support: To ensure all students receive research-based, effective instruction in general education classrooms, and that interventions are evidence-based and matched to student needs.