What is this thing called RTI?

American TeacherSeptember 2008

Reviewed by: Sue Koopman

#2 Human Development and Learning #3 Diversity #4 Planning for instruction #5 Learning Environment #6 Instructional Delivery #7 Communication #8 Assessment #9 Collaborative Relationships

Illinois Professional Teaching Standards

AFT ONLINEhttp://www.aft.org/topics/rti

IDEA PARTNERSHIPhttp://www.ideapartnership.org/page.cfm?pageid=18

RTI ACTION NETWORKhttp://www.rtinetwork.org/

RTI Web Source Sampler

NATIONAL CENTER ON RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION

http://www.rti4success.org/

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE DIRECTORS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

http://www.nasdse.org/Portals/0/SCHOOL.pdfhttp://www.nasdse.org/Portals/0/DISTRICT.pdf

RTI Web Source Sampler (continued)

This is NOT true. The entire school needs to be involved in the RTI process, not just special education.

RTI begins with the general education staff with input from special education as needed.

See: “Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities” at http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view for more information.

MYTH #1 RTI is only “pre-referral”; special education staff will have to sort it out

NOT true. RTI is designed to broaden the range of academic and behavioral interventions in general education, not to prevent or deny access to needed services or support.

See: “Progress Monitoring” under RTI Topics at http://www.rti4success.org for more information.

MYTH #2 RTI delays special education referrals

NOT true. Parents or educators may request an initial evaluation to determine if a student has a disability. RTI does not weaken that right.

Requests can be made at any point within the RTI process.

See: “Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities” at http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view for more information.

MYTH #3 You cannot refer a student for special education evaluation if your school or district has an RTI process.

FALSE. Tier 3 is the most intensive level of intervention within general education. It is not special education.

If a student still does not make progress within this level, he/she may then be evaluated for special education.

See: http://www.rtinetwork.org/essential/tieredinstruction for more information.

MYTH #4 “Tier 3” is another name for special education.

FALSE. Adequate time should be given to determine if the interventions are working.

Guidelines given by the RTI ACTION NETWORK:

Tier 1: Maximum of eight weeksTier 2: No longer than one grading periodTier 3: There is no guideline for this tier.

See: National Research Center on Learning Disabilities at:

http://www.nrcld.org for more information

MYTH #5 RTI interventions should be tried for no more than six to eight weeks.

Special education teachers need to be included in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of interventions within RTI.

They should not be considered an outside agency to receive students that did not make sufficient progress within the RTI process.

MYTH #6 RTI reduces the need for special ed teachers.

What is this thing called RTI? (2008, September). American Teacher, 93(1), 4-5. 

References