RTI: Checking for Fidelity Melissa Williams Director of School Improvement, Ontario SD Erin Lolich Oregon RTI Project, Tigard-Tualatin SD

Objectives Share findings from Spring 2008 RTI implementation visits with participants Share findings from Spring 2008 RTI implementation visits with participants Share tools and tips for checking RTI systems fidelity Share tools and tips for checking RTI systems fidelity

First, a little background Oregon RTI Project started in 2005 Oregon RTI Project started in school districts currently participating 29 school districts currently participating 12 districts received implementation visits in Spring districts received implementation visits in Spring nd or 3 rd year of RTI implementation 2 nd or 3 rd year of RTI implementation

Purpose of Implementation Visits Gather information about RTI implementation fidelity Gather information about RTI implementation fidelity To guide districts in setting priorities and planning professional development To guide districts in setting priorities and planning professional development To guide the OrRTI Project in setting priorities and planning professional development To guide the OrRTI Project in setting priorities and planning professional development

What We Did Team of 1-6 TTSD staff visited each district Team of 1-6 TTSD staff visited each district Observations: Observations: core reading core reading Interventions Interventions RTI team meetings RTI team meetings Interviews of building staff and RTI leadership team members Interviews of building staff and RTI leadership team members Review of random learning disability files Review of random learning disability files Survey monkey completed by district staff Survey monkey completed by district staff

Tools We Used Reading Instruction Fidelity Checklist Reading Instruction Fidelity Checklist Reading Instruction Fidelity Checklist Reading Instruction Fidelity Checklist RTI Leadership Team Interview Template RTI Leadership Team Interview Template RTI Leadership Team Interview Template RTI Leadership Team Interview Template Learning Disability File Review Template Learning Disability File Review Template Learning Disability File Review Template Learning Disability File Review Template

What We Found Core instruction is consistently STRONG across our districts (as evidenced by observations and cross-year box plots) Core instruction is consistently STRONG across our districts (as evidenced by observations and cross-year box plots) Intervention options continue to expand Intervention options continue to expand Teams continue to need training in data analysis Teams continue to need training in data analysis Decision rules are critical—and underutilized Decision rules are critical—and underutilized Jamie S. v. Milwaukee Public Schools Jamie S. v. Milwaukee Public Schools

Lessons Learned It’s ok to get comfortable with MTI before utilizing RTI It’s ok to get comfortable with MTI before utilizing RTI Eventually you will need to jump off the cliff Eventually you will need to jump off the cliff Principals are key players Principals are key players Learning disability expertise is imperative Learning disability expertise is imperative Decision rules rule Decision rules rule Train, train, train, and SUPPORT Train, train, train, and SUPPORT People don’t know what they don’t know People don’t know what they don’t know

It's a wise man who profits by his own experience, but it's a good deal wiser one who lets the rattlesnake bite the other fellow. It's a wise man who profits by his own experience, but it's a good deal wiser one who lets the rattlesnake bite the other fellow. -Josh Billings