RtI (Response to Intervention): This is a new way suggested by Congress to help schools make eligibility determinations. In actual fact, Congress suggested this process for Specific Learning Disability eligibility, as an alternative to the discrepancy rule. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has decided to apply this process to all disabilities.
In simple terms, where there is a suspicion of a disability, RtI requires schools to create a plan to use general education interventions to see if these interventions are sufficient to resolve the educational problems the student may be having. The idea is to first make sure that the student's problems are not the result of a lack of teaching or the failure to apply general education interventions.
There are a lot of problems about the way this procedure is being implemented. Too often the interventions are not applied with fidelity or the progress monitoring is not being done properly. While the FDOE states that RtI is not to be used to "delay or deny" eligibility, the reality on the ground is that RtI is frequently being used to delay and deny eligibility.
It is essential that parents and advocates understand the RtI process and that together we learn how to advocate in order for this process to function for the benefit of students with disabilities. We will try to present information here that will help parents and advocates understand RtI.
RtI - Technical Assistance Papers: (FDOE):
RtI - OSEP Memorandum
RtI - Powerpoint Presentation by Claudia Roberts
RtI - Notes by Claudia Roberts
