Response to Intervention (RTI) Initial Implementation Top 10 Potential Perils and Pitfalls

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Response to Intervention (RTI) Initial
ImplementationTop 10 Potential Perils and
Pitfalls

• Mary Barringer, Ph.D.
• The SBS Group

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10 Forging Ahead without a Map

• Step 1 Needs and Readiness Analysis

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• Step 2 Comprehensive Plan
• Baseline data
• Budget
• Data Management
• Selection of Interventions
• Prioritized Training Needs
• Goals
• Benchmarks
• Timelines
• Program/Outcome Evaluation
• Staffing
• Schedules
• Fidelity Monitoring

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9 Changing Your Forms Without Changing Your
Processes

• Forms document the process
• Dont try to make what you are already doing
  fit into RTI-style forms
• Be VERY careful about when your forms change from
  general education to special education
• When do you suspect a disability
• Failure to identify

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8 Problem Solving Teams are the New
Pre-Referral Teams

• Problem Solving Teams are the anti-referral team
• Their job is to define the problem and identify
  the solution

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7 Youre Already Doing This

• Administrators must deal with staff resistance
  directly
• Be honest
• Provide support and training
• Provide monitoring
• Clearly convey your expectations
• Dont
• Minimize
• Try to please everyone

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6 Data Management? What Data Management?

• Data to be managed
• Results of Universal Screenings for Academics AND
  Behavior
• By district
• By school
• By classroom
• By student

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Data to be Managed

• District, building, classroom, student baseline
  data
• Results of universal screenings
• CBM
• Who is getting what intervention
• Response data

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5 Thinking That Tiers II and III Can Float
Without a Tier I Supporting Them

• You must start with effective instruction in ALL
  classrooms and universal screenings
• Tier I is your foundation

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4 Failing to Monitor Treatment Fidelity

• Fidelity Monitoring
• If you want an intervention to be implemented you
  must directly monitor fidelity
• Need forms for collecting and reporting
  monitoring data
• Training for Monitors
• If you dont monitor the intervention you cannot
  use the response data for decision making

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3 Training? What Training?

• Who needs what
• Administrators
• Conducting a Needs Analysis
• Intensive training in what RTI is and is not
• Analyzing data
• The critical importance of their leadership
• Resource reallocation
• Responding appropriately to resistance

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Training Who Needs What

• Problem Solving Teams need At Least
• Problem solving process/methods
• Setting appropriate goals
• Evaluating data
• CBM
• Evaluating research based interventions
• Matching interventions to students
• Fidelity Monitoring

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Training Who Needs What

• Teachers need
• Fundamentals of RTI
• Differentiated Instruction
• Curriculum Based Measurement
• Graphing Response Data

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Training Who Needs What

• Special Education Support Staff
• Basics of RTI
• Collaborative Teaming
• Consultation
• Changing roles

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2 DNQ? Well Just RTI Them Into SPED!!

• Lack of a basic understanding of RTI among
  general education teachers and administrators

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1 SPED Directors Owning It

• You are invited to this party but do not offer to
  be the hostess
• Yes, everyone will be happy to let you, but
• No ownership by general education
• No accountability for general education
• Gatekeepers are great but the goal is to divert
  the traffic