The Truth About RTI

What does response to intervention mean?

“Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tier approach to the early identification and support of students with learning and behavior needs.”(Gorski).  RTI is an acronym that a lot of parents fear hearing because there is a common misconception that it means their child has a learning disability.  Don't worry, that's not necessarily true. In fact, RTI is a system to ensure students who need instructional support, get that support.

The Model

“Though there is no single, thoroughly researched and widely practiced “model” of the RTI process, it is generally defined as a three-tier (or three-step) model of school supports that uses research-based academic and/or behavioral interventions.”(Gorski).

The RTI model is a bit idealistic and the majority of schools with an at-risk population will see around 50%-70% in the tier 1 stage.  This can be overwhelming for teachers as the documentation can become extremely time-consuming.  Schools with high at-risk populations must designate additional support to help teachers with the RTI monitoring.

Each tier should receive roughly the same amount of time for independent and small group instruction. But what does it mean when a teacher says, we're moving your child to "Tier 2," please sign this paperwork? Below are some general characteristics of students at each tier in the RTI model.

Tier 1:

• Scholars benefit from the school-wide adopted curriculum.
• Scholars must be challenged to meet their potential.  

Tier 2:  

• Scholars who fall below the expected levels of accomplishment (called benchmarks)
• At-risk for academic failure.
• Benefit from small group instruction (5-7 students) with a strategic approach to remediation.

Tier 3:

• Scholars who are considered to be at high risk for failure
• Candidates for identification could have special education needs.
• Scholars benefit from individual or small group instruction (3 to 5 students).
• Tier 3 is considered special education in some schools; however, in many RTI models, the students are not identified as special education students at this point.

How does response to intervention promote student learning?

Education in America has come a long ways and will always be a work in progress.  We’ve been down the road of the “one-size fits all” model that fails time and again.  The RTI model holds teachers and schools accountable to ensure that all students are receiving instruction that is rigorous and challenging for their developmental level. There is no doubt that teachers are promoting student learning by differentiating their instruction based on the RTI model and progress monitoring.

What does response to intervention look like in the classroom?

You should see a variety of instructional methods taking place that differentiate the instruction to meet the needs of all learners.  If you’re an administrator or a visiting parent to your scholar’s classroom, focus on “The Key Three” below and take mental notes.

The Key Three (based on the Universal Design for Learning):

1. How is the material being presented to the students?
2. How are the students allowed to express what they’ve learned?
3. What’s the student engagement like?  How does the teacher keep interest, encourage effort, and promote self-reflection?

So, the next time you hear your child's teacher mention RTI and differentiated instruction, remember, that's a good thing. It means they're giving your child the support they need to be successful.

Gorski, Deb. "What is RTI?." What is Response to Intervention (RTI)? | RTI Action Network. n.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2015.