Florida Charter School Conference Orlando, Florida November, 2009 Clark Dorman Project Leader Florida Statewide Problem-Solving/RtI Project University of South Florida

RtI is the practice of (1) providing high- quality instruction/intervention matched to student needs and (2) using learning rate over time and level of performance to (3) make important educational decisions. (Batsche, et al., 2005) Problem-solving is the process that is used to develop effective instruction/interventions.

ACADEMIC SYSTEMS Tier 3: Comprehensive & Intensive Students who need individualized interventions. Tier 2: Strategic Interventions Students who need more support in addition to the core curriculum. Tier 1: Core Curriculum All students, including students who require curricular enhancements for acceleration. BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS Tier 3: Intensive Interventions Students who need individualized intervention. Tier 2: Targeted Group Interventions Students who need more support in addition to school-wide positive behavior program. Tier 1: Universal Interventions All students in all settings.

71% of districts are in some stage of implementing RTI – up from 60% in 2008 and 44% in 2007 RTI is being increasingly implemented across all grade levels with a significant increase in high school implementation compared to 2008 Of districts with enough data, 83% indicated RTI has reduced the number of referrals to special education Districts reported the three primary obstacles to implementing RTI as: Insufficient teacher training, Lack of intervention resources, Lack of data, knowledge, skills for tracking/charting

Rule (6A ) –Evidence-based interventions –Interventions in general education environment –Progress Monitoring Plan (PMP) EBD Rule (6A ) –Evidence-based interventions –Student’s response to intervention determines EBD SLD Rule (6A ) –Evidence-based instruction/intervention –Level of performance –Rate of learning

Florida Statewide RtI Implementation Plan State-level Infrastructure District-Level Infrastructure Building-Level Infrastructure School Psychologists with Skills to DO RtI AND Facilitate its Implementation

Florida DOE Statewide Response to Instruction/Intervention (RtI) Implementation Plan

“It is the responsibility of every educator, organization, and parent to actively engage in collaborative efforts to meet Florida’s goals. In the unified effort, all schools in Florida should ensure evidence-based practices, instructionally relevant assessments, systematic problem-solving to meet all students’ needs, data-based decision making, effective professional development, supportive leadership, and meaningful family involvement. These are the foundation principles of a Response to Instruction/Intervention (RtI) system which provides us the framework to elevate the efficacy of our statewide improvement efforts.” Dr. Eric J. Smith Commissioner of Education June 2008

Statewide Leadership in PS/RtI Statewide Technical Assistance in PS/RtI Emphasizes the Need for Districts to Develop District-Wide RtI Plan Identifies Resources for PS/RtI Implementation

Statewide Implementation Plan –Funding Statewide Implementation Projects –Partnerships –Technical Assistance –Professional Development

State Management Group State Transformation Team Regional RtI Coordinators DA Regional RtI Specialists District Based Leadership Teams School Based Leadership Teams School-Based Coaches Advisory Committee

Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction Office of Early Learning Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention Just Read, Florida! Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Accountability Research and Measurement Office of Communications and Public Affairs Educator Quality Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services, Office of the Chancellor Student Achievement, Office of the Chancellor

Scale up quickly with fidelity per the comprehensive plan with considerations to leadership, resources, funding, etc., as related to Differentiated Accountability Plan, school change and current educational context and fiscal realities in Florida.

Office of Academic Achievement Through Language Acquisition Problem-Solving/Response to Intervention Project Office of Early Learning Florida Center for Interactive Media Florida Center for Reading Research Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Bureau of School Improvement Florida Center for Research-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Florida’s Positive Behavior Support Project Bureau of Family and Community Outreach RtI Teaching Learning Connections Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction Just Read, Florida!

Floridarti.usf.edu Florida PS/RtI Introductory Training Course

Purposes of PS/RtI Project: –Statewide training in PS/RtI –Evaluate the impact of PS/RtI on educator, student, and systemic outcomes in pilot sites implementing the model –Collaborate with Implementation Partners Florida Statewide Positive Behavior Support Project RtI-Teaching Learning Connections FCRR Office of Early Learning FLDOE

 DA Region 1  DA Region 2  DA Region 3  DA Region 4  DA Region 5  PS/RtI Pilot Districts PS/RtI North Region PS/RtI Regional Coordinator 2 DA RtI Specialists PS/RtI Central Region PS/RtI Regional Coordinator 2 DA RtI Specialists PS/RtI South Region PS/RtI Regional Coordinator 2 DA RtI Specialists Florida Problem Solving/ Response to Intervention Project

3 year training curriculum –Problem Solving Process –3-Tiered RtI Model –Systems Change Limited technical assistance and support Limited data collection

3 year training curriculum –Problem Solving Process –3-Tiered RtI Model –Systems Change School, district and Project personnel work collaboratively to implement PS/RtI model Training, technical assistance, and support provided to schools Purpose = program evaluation

DistrictSuperintendentDistrict Size ClayDavid L. OwensMedium MonroeDr. Joseph BurkeMedium/Small PascoHeather FiorentinoLarge PinellasDr. Julie JanssenVery Large PolkDr. Gail F. McKinzieLarge St. JohnsDr. Joseph G. JoynerMedium WaltonCarlene H. AndersonSmall

Added 5 RtI Specialists to DA Regional Teams Completed Years 1 and 2 of Statewide Training Completed Years 1 and 2 of Pilot School Training 6337 Individuals Enrolled in the On-Line RtI Introductory Course 2831 Individuals Completed the On-Line RtI Introductory Course 24 Regional Meetings to Support District RtI Plan Development –66 of 67 Districts Attended –31 Districts Submitted Plans for Voluntary Review in June –Visit (District Plan Examples) 5, 3-Day Regional Training of Trainers Meetings –61 Districts Sent Teams to be Trained 3 Regional Meetings for Principal Leadership Training on RtI Direct Technical Assistance to Districts

State Infrastructure and Plan District Infrastructure and Plan – for planwww.nasdse.org Building Infrastructure and Plan – for planwww.nasdse.org Professional Development Technical Assistance Implementation Monitoring and Integrity Program Evaluation

Professional development curriculum should align with the systems change process of Consensus, Infrastructure and Implementation Progress monitoring of implementation (outcomes of PD) should align with the systems change process AND the PD curriculum –SAPSI

General –Follow-Up to Training Sessions –Promotes Integrity Targeted –Based on Needs Assessment –Can Be Group Based –Focused, Fewer Topics –Based on Data From Sites Critical Components Direct Observations

Primary role and responsibilities Collect and manage data (school, grade and classroom level) Participate on school based PS team Model effective group process using the 4 steps of PS Partner with the school principal to facilitate the change initiatives Collaborate with the district team to identify technical assistance as needed

Pilot Schools (%) Comparison Schools (%) Improved65%48% Declined22%41% No Change13%11%

–Building and District Implementation Blueprints –Current research (evidence-based practices) that supports use of RtI (RtI: Research to Practice) –Blueprints to support implementation –Monthly RtI Talks –Virtual visits to schools implementing RtI –Webinars –Progress Monitoring Tools to Assess Level of Implementation –Tools/assessments –Introductory Course

Just Read, Florida! Florida Center for Reading Research Florida’s Positive Behavior Support Project RtI: Teaching Learning Connections Office of Early Learning, Florida Department of Education Bureau of School Improvement, Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, Florida Department of Education Florida Response to Intervention, Florida Department of Education