Response to Intervention is a system designed to provide targeted instruction to students that need support in a specific academic area.
The program consists of a collaborative, solution-focused team of educators and parents/ guardians who play a vital role in a student's success.
Program Overview:
The process begins with high-quality, differentiated instruction, which takes place in the child's classroom. The interventionist teacher offers ideas and materials to the classroom teacher for targeted lessons for the majority of the class.
All students participate in Universal Testing in Literacy and Math. These assessments are curriculum-based with grade-level standards. They provide data showing where students are excelling, where they are meeting grade-level standards, and where they might need support or remediation. Data from these assessments, coupled with classwork and teacher input, is the basis for referral to the program.
With a parent's permission, the interventionist teacher will work with students in their classroom setting during designated times to further target instruction. Student achievement in this program will be regularly monitored to ensure all participants' needs are being addressed.
As with all parts, data helps to make decisions on when to increase or decrease an intervention. Some students may exit the program if they have achieved grade-level expectations. If they have not reached this goal yet, the intervention teacher will consult with the classroom teacher and develop a plan that may/or may not include the I&RS team. This is a team comprised of administrators, veteran teachers, and specialists. With this level of support, students may begin meeting individually or in a smaller group setting with the teacher for additional support, and the parent/guardian will be notified.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Does my child have to participate?
A: Participation is strongly encouraged but not mandatory.
Q: Is this a type of Special Education?
A: No. These programs are supplements to General Education and are not part of Special Education.
Q: How does this impact the curriculum and what my child is learning?
A: Students have the same curriculum as every other student, and these programs supplement the skills they are learning in the classroom through practice and targeted instruction.
Q: How long will my child remain in the program?
A: Every child is different. Some students will exit the program quickly, and other students may need continued support throughout the year.
Q: What will they be doing during RTI?
A: Since every child's learning style and academic needs are different; our program is highly individualized. We use targeted direct instruction. This means the teacher will teach one skill at a time, and when the skill is mastered, the next skill is introduced.
Q: What does the I&RS Team do?
A: The first step is to contact the parent. Parents are an integral part of the I&RS (Intervention and Referral Services) Team. A meeting will be scheduled to discuss a more formal learning plan. With a more formal plan in place, the student will receive additional one-on-one support from the interventionist, additional instruction from the classroom teacher, and some skills to work on at home. After a minimum of 6 weeks, the I&RS committee and parents will reconvene to discuss what progress has been made and if further interventions are needed.
Q: What if I decide I no longer want my child to participate in the program?
A: Should you decide that you no longer want your child to participate in our program, you can contact us to discuss your concerns. In fact, we can be contacted at any time if you need support or suggestions on how to support your child's academic growth at home.
Q: What can I do to support my child at home?
A: Please refer to this website for games, articles, information, and suggestions for each grade level and subject area.