Response to Intervention

Susan Fuller and Pamela TcharkovskiTECP 70November 12, 2013

Abstract

The following presentation discusses Response to Intervention (RTI) with an emphasis on the primary level of instruction. Tier one provides universal screening and effective instruction to insure that students who are at risk are recognized early. There are many ways to differentiate instruction in the classroom to improve student performance. There are advantages and disadvantages of the RTI framework. We believe if the framework is implemented with fidelity it will skew the achievement bell curve in a positive direction.

What is the background and history?• 1970’s and 80’s Deno and Mirkin found that short

frequent assessments helped manage special education students’ needs.

• Benjamin Bloom’s (1980) “ Mastery Learning” experiments used formative assessments as a basis to modify curriculum and instruction.

• 1991 The initials “RTI” may have been first used by Gresham in the sense of “ Resistance to Intervention” but with the positive results it went to “Response to Intervention”.

• 1994 The three tier structure for organizing response to students originated with researchers like Sugai and Horner seeking ways to deal with behavioral problems.

• 1998 Black and Wiliams meta-analysis documented how using assessment results to set goals and determine interventions improves performance.

• 2001 President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education Report (Hughes 2011) stated concern about “instructional casualties”

• 2003 Dual discrepancy model developed by Fuchs measured both the level of achievement and the rate of student growth.

• 2004 IDEIA allowed states to use RTI as a factor in determining eligibility for Special Education.

Tertiary

Secondary

Primary

RTI• Framework • School wide• Designed to

accommodate all learners

• Requires research based instruction

• Uses data collection over time.

RTI• A curriculum• Just a special

education program• Require students to

“wait to fail” • Make placement

decisions based on “snapshots” of student performance.

PrimaryCore curriculum is research-basedCulturally and linguistically responsive to studentsUniversal screening to determine students’ current level of performanceDifferentiated learning activitiesAccommodationsProblem solving to address behavior issues

• Differentiated instruction– Flexible Grouping– Visual Aides– Clear Behavioral Objectives– Buddy Reading/ Peer Tutoring– Learning Centers– Technology (smart boards, audio books,

ipad)– Preferential seating– Individual attention from teacher

Specific Learning Disability (Current view)• RTI uses on going assessment rather

than a snapshot to make placement decisions.

• Change from discrepancy model• Universal screenings • Regular progress monitoring• “At Risk” students are identified early• Supports for meeting the needs of at

risk students are already in place in tier one.

• The thoroughness of the process ensures correct identification.

• Improved education for all students • Students receive interventions that are not too much or too

little for their needs.• Can identify specific instructional needs for specific learners.• Students do not have to qualify for special education to

receive more and better instruction• Feedback teachers can use to improve their own instruction.• Feedback administrators can use to assess teachers.• Provides feedback for students and parents.• Potential to cut expense of services because of fewer

referrals.

Advantages

• Increased burden on classroom teachers extra support is needed for implementation

• May be poorly executed• Potential to inadvertently delay special needs referrals.• Teachers, principals and district officials must believe in

the instructional framework• Cost of professional development needed to implement

RTI is high• Time consuming• Roti requires that decisions about placement are made

based on data taken over a period of time.

Disadvantages

Jenna• 8th grader struggling with math• School uses Accelerated math and STAR

math• STAR math showed Jenna was in the “on

watch” category• Math teacher monitored biweekly and Jenna

continued to struggle• Math teacher brought Jenna to 8th grade

team meeting.• Math teacher suspected computational

fluency challenges• Math flash student progress report

confirmed fluency issues with subtraction • Tier two intervention to address fluency was

provided .

Billy• Billy is a first grader• He knows 80 of the first 100 sight words• He has extensive background knowledge to

apply to reading and a large vocabulary• His math assessment is nearly perfect• He entered first grade at Rigby reading level

8 the end of year goal is level 10.• He received OT services in Kindergarten • His teacher reports that he chooses to work

and play alone when possible• He lies down in the middle of group time and

continues to pay attention.• He doesn’t always complete his work on

time

ReferencesBarnett, D. C. (2007). Achieving Science-Based Practice Through Response to Intervention: What It Might Look Like in Preschools. Journal Of Educational & Psychological Consultation, 17(1), 31-54. Callinan, S., Cunningham, E., & Theiler, S. (2013). Revisiting Discrepancy Theory in Learning Disabilities: What Went Wrong and Why We Should Go Back. Australian Journal Of Guidance And Counselling, 23(1), 1-17. Harlacher, J. K. (2010). The "I" in RTI. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(6), 30-38. Hughes, C. A., & Dexter, D. D. (2011). Response to Intervention: A Research-Based Summary. Theory Into Practice, 50(1), 4-11. doi:10.1080/00405841.2011.534909Noll, B. (2013). Seven ways to kill RTI: even good interventions can go bad if they're not planned and supported well. Heed some warning signs about Response to Intervention. (R I. P. R T. I.). Phi Delta Kappan, (6), 55.

National Center on Response to Intervention. National Center on Response to Intervention, (2010).Essential components of rti-a closer look at response to intervention. Retrieved from National Center on Response to Intervention website: http://www.rti4success.orgNational Resource Center on Learning Disabilities. U.S. Office of Special Education Programs, (2007).Responsiveness to intervention in the sld determination process. Retrieved from National Research Center on Learning Disabilities website: www.nrcld.orgPittsford Sutherland High School. (n.d.). Response to intervention (rti)-tier 1 strategies. Retrieved from http://www.pittsfordschools.org/sutherland.cfm?subpage=40414Renaissance Learning. (2009). Making rti work:a practical guide to using data for a successful "response to intervention" program . Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Renaissance Learning.Searle, M. (2010). What is rti and why should we care?.ASCD, Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109097/chapters/What-Is-RTI-and-Why-Should-...