Heathcote

What is RTI?

Effective July 1, 2012, every school district in New York State is required to implement a Response to Intervention model in the elementary school grades.

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered, problem-solving approach that identifies general education students in grades K-5 who are struggling in the academic areas of reading and mathematics. Through on-going assessments, identified students are provided with targeted instruction at varying levels of intensity. The progress that students make at each level is closely monitored and used in further decisions regarding their instructional program.

Scarsdale’s Model

For years Scarsdale used a Local Effort Service program that supported struggling students. Conceptually, the Local Effort program is similar to the RTI model as they both focus on addressing students’ learning needs prior to recommending special education services. Building on the successful Local Effort program, the District reformatted it to comply with the state mandates of RTI.

The RTI model is a three-tiered approach to support. Tier 1 support takes place in the student’s classroom and is conducted by the primary teacher. Tier 2 support involves supplemental instruction provided by the Learning Center teacher outside of the classroom. Tier 3 support mandates that a student receive an increased amount of supplemental services by the LRC teachers or be referred to the Committee of Special Education (CSE) for a special education evaluation. A referral to CSE will be considered for students who have received 36 weeks of Tier II services. At any time, a parent may refer his/her child to the CSE for an initial evaluation. The RTI process may not be used to delay or deny acting on the parent request.