Building an RTI System Gresham-Barlow School District Dec 2, 2010

Core RTI Principles We can effectively teach all children Intervene early Use a multi-tier model of service delivery Use a problem-solving method to make decisions within a multi-tier model Use research-based, scientifically validated interventions/instruction to the extent available Monitor student progress to inform instruction Use data to make decisions Use assessment for 3 different purposes – Screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring NASDSE, 2006

RTI Misconception: What it is and what it’s not Is NotIs An instructional programA framework to implement effective practices A group of students that leaves your room for extra instruction A system of matching resources to each individuals student’s needs Possible to implement aloneA collaborative effort The same for every schoolUniquely designed for each building A special ed, a general ed, a Title 1, a Talented and Gifted initiative An “Every” Education Initiative An educational fadA systematic method for delivering instruction, based on research and effective large scale implementation examples including Minneapolis Public Schools, Heartland AEA (Iowa), Ohio, and Pennsylvania

Differences Learning to Read Estimates from NICHD Research Population % Journey to ReadingInstructional Requirements 5 Easy: children read before starting school Need no formal decoding instruction 35 Relatively EasyLearn to read regardless of instructional approach 40 Formidable ChallengeNeed systematic and explicit instruction 20 One of the most difficult tasks to be mastered in school Need intensive, systematic, direct, explicit instruction

Pre-referral team (CARES) reviews what teacher has tried Jessie participates in the general curriculum Jessie isn’t doing well Teacher tries again Exits intervention? Jessie doesn’t improve Jessie improves Teacher’s effort is deemed sufficient Special Education referral is initiated by the teacher Jessie’s teacher does his best to differentiate instruction and keeps anecdotal data The pre referral/discrepancy approach Teacher is told to try again Jessie is tested, usually by special education personnel, using IQ, achievement, and other tests

In The Past General Education Title Reading or Other Reading Support Special Education Some “Fell’” Through Some “Fell’” Through Heartland Educational Agency

Daisy participates in the general curriculum with strong instruction Screening data shows Daisy isn’t doing well Second Group Intervention Team designs individualized intervention Exits intervention? Daisy doesn’t improve Daisy improves Daisy doesn’t improve Daisy improves Intervention is intense and LD is suspected Improvement is good and other factors are suspected as cause Special Education referral is initiated Team reviews screening data and places Daisy in group intervention Parents Notified How RTI Works from a Student’s Perspective Progress and intervention data is used

In The Past General Education Title Reading or Other Reading Support Special Education Some “Fell’” Through Some “Fell’” Through Heartland Educational Agency

RTI: Full Continuum of Support General Education Title Reading & Reading Support, Gifted Ed. Special Education, Gifted Ed. I I I I I I I I all along the continuum! I = Heartland Educational Agency

RTI focus is on General Education! Teachers don’t fail students, systems do. RTI is a system for differentiation of instruction! RTI is a system that is predicated on the general education teachers’ skill and knowledge of instruction, assessment, curriculum, and children.

Nuts and Bolts: System Requirements Leadership at all levels Teaming Use of a research based core reading curriculum Universal screening Implementation of research based interventions Progress monitoring Decision Rules Policy and procedure development (standardization) Professional development including fidelity of implementation.

#1 Leadership District Level Strong administrative support to ensure commitment and resources AND School Level Strong teacher support to share in the common goal of improving instruction

#2 Teaming Collaboration is the key: Membership might include…  Principal  Classroom Teachers  Specialists  School Counselor  School Psychologist The Team is only as strong as the least invested member

14 School Data Teams Schoolwide Data Team Intervention Team Individual Problem Solving Team

#3 Research-Based CORE Program RTI is predicated on effective, research-based programs that include the BIG 5 components of reading: Phonemic Awareness Phonics Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension PhonicsPhonics FluencyFluency Phonemic Awareness ComprhensionComprhension Vocabulary Delivered for 90 minutes daily for all students!

Effective core instruction is the most important thing you can do in RTI.

Teaching is like running a relay

We want to be sure that we know what has and what will be taught. Mastery of skills looks different at all levels Repeated opportunities to learn Teaching is like running a relay

Tier 1 is for all students

How does it help a struggling reader to be in core? They need the most instruction Need to be exposed to grade level material If they miss grade level material, they will never catch up Just because there is a deficit in one area, does not mean there is a deficit in all areas of reading Interventions are limited in scope

#4 Universal Screening Universal screening for ALL students at least three times per year Procedures must identify which students are proficient (80%) and which are deficient (20%). Good screening measures: Are not intended to measure everything about a student, but provide an efficient an unbiased way to identify students who will need additional support (Tier 2 or Tier 3) Help you assess the overall health of your Core program (Are 80% of your students at benchmark/proficiency?)

Why Use Fluency Measures for Screening? Oral Reading Fluency and Accuracy in reading connected text is one of the best indicators of overall reading comprehension (Fuchs, Fuchs, Hosp, & Jenkins, 2001) We always examine fluency AND accuracy Without examining accuracy scores, we are missing a BIG piece of the picture Students MUST be accurate with any skill before they are fluent. Oral reading fluency does not tell you everything about a student’s reading skill, but a child who cannot read fluently cannot fully comprehend written text and will need additional support.

#5 Interventions – Must be designed to match identified needs (based on data) – Almost always given in small groups (Not necessarily 1:1) – On-going data determines need to continue, discontinue, or change curriculum, instruction, and/or assessment – Is in addition to and aligns with the district core curriculum – Does NOT replace core – Uses more explicit instruction – Provides more intensity Additional modeling and guided feedback Immediacy of feedback

Interventions Students pulled out for interventions may be “missing” something else… BUT If a student can’t read, how much are they already missing in the classroom? “No one seems to notice that it is only during that single period each day [intervention time] that the struggling readers are provided with texts and lessons that theory and research support. The other 5 hours each day are largely comprised of texts and lessons that are over their heads.” Richard Allington

Who receives interventions? Start with what’s manageable – You may not be able to provide interventions to all students that need them initially – Must weigh the amount of resources vs. the number of students in need – Be consistent: Ex., Lowest 20% at each grade level Remember… ALL students will receive Core Instruction

Which students: – All receiving intervention – Borderline scores or performance-as resources allow #6 Progress Monitoring Tools Must Be: Brief Valid Reliable Repeatable Easy to Administer Frequency: Every 2 weeks (minimum) Every week (ideal) Are the children learning? How can we tell?

#7 Decision Rules Provide the “now what” after teams have analyzed student data Guide decisions for all tiers Take the guesswork out of “what to do next” Ensure equity across schools I think… I feel… I believe What data do you have that makes you think/feel/believe that? - Dr. Ed Shapiro

Aimline Decision Rule Example: 4 Points Below the Goal Line Oral Reading Fluency Add 15 minutes to intervention Reduce group size to 3 students

Districts must adopt common procedures for doing this work:  Decision Rules  Forms  SPED Procedures Think of RTI as a standardized test Students should be identified similarly from school to school #8 Policy and Procedure Development (Standardization)

# 9 Professional Development and Fidelity Content: – Core curriculum & instruction – Assessment – Interventions – Teaming – Data-based decision making – SPED procedures Delivery: Ongoing Sufficient time to collaborate and plan Incorporates fidelity checks Data ALSO used to drive professional development needs

Benefits of an RTI System RTI will help you to: – Know immediately, “Is what we are doing working?” – Know which students need more/different – Know what each student needs – Provide structures to deliver what students need – Reduce rates of identification of student learning disabilities – Prevent reading problems before they occur – Raise student achievement – Heartland Educational Agency

Tigard-Tualatin School District OAKS Reading Proficiency

Tigard-Tualatin School District OAKS Math Proficiency

A Tale of Two Districts District 1: RTI for 4-5 yearsDistrict 2: Non RTI Small, rural school district 350 elementary students (PK-5) 470 elementary students (PK-5) Title 1 services 31% students on Free and Reduced Lunch 19% students on Free and Reduced Lunch

A Tale of Two Districts District 1: RTI 3 rd Grade ORF

A Tale of Two Districts District 2: Non RTI 3 rd Grade ORF

RTI District: 3 rd Grade ITBS Reading Comprehension

The Process is Ongoing and Long-Term Adapted from CONSENSUS