SCHOOL-BASED RTI PRACTICES

In 2002, the U.S. Department of Education asked NRCLD to identify, describe, and evaluate responsiveness to intervention in elementary schools. Working with the six Regional Resource Centers, we identified potential sites and solicited school participation. We initially considered more than 60 schools across the country; 41 of those schools submitted information. NRCLD research staff reviewed the extensive information from these schools and judged that 19 of them engaged in one or more of the following commendable practices: school-wide screening, progress monitoring, tiered service delivery, data-based decision making, parent involvement, and fidelity of implementation.

Here, we draw on this work to provide real-life examples of components of RTI service delivery models. For each of these components, we describe one or more schools using an RTI service delivery model and discuss their implementation process for the specific component.


School-wide screening

Screening is a type of assessment characterized by quick, low-cost, repeatable testing of critical skills or behaviors. Screening assessments can be administered with minimal amounts of training.

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Progress monitoring

Progress monitoring is a set of assessment procedures for determining the extent to which students are benefiting from classroom instruction and for monitoring the effectiveness of curriculum.

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Tiered service delivery

RTI is a multi-tiered service delivery model in which instruction is differentiated to meet learner needs at various levels.

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Data-based decision making

Accurate implementation of RTI requires a shared understanding of options, such as choices of interventions, and the basis on which intervention decisions are made.

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Parent involvement

Parent involvement is consistent, organized, and meaningful two-way communication between school staff and parents with regard to student progress and related school activities.

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Fidelity of implementation

Fidelity of implementation means instruction is delivered in the way in which it was designed to be delivered.

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