NCRTI HIGHLIGHTS & RESOURCES |
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New Website www.rti4success.org
The National Center on Response to Intervention is pleased to announce that we have a newly redesigned website. You will still find all the high quality, informative resources you have come to expect from the Center, but now they are easier to access. Use the Essential Components graphic to navigate your way through the site and find exactly what you are looking for through our new Advanced Search feature. Check out the site and please provide us with your feedback by e-mailing us at RTICenter@air.org.
RTI for English Language Learners
This new brief, "RTI for English Language Learners: Appropriately Using Screening and Progress Monitoring Tools to Improve Instructional Outcomes" written by Julie Esparza Brown and Amanda Sanford examines the characteristics of ELL students; defines the RTI process; and describes how students’ linguistic, cultural, and experiential backgrounds can guide appropriate screening, progress monitoring, and goal setting that help promote English literacy.
Articles about Response to Intervention
"The Complex Ecology of Response to Intervention" is a collection of papers that were presented by National Center on Response to Intervention (NCRTI) staff at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) 2010 Conference. The collection features papers on nine different topics including: critical issues facing states in RTI implementation, providing effective instructional intervention within an RTI framework, and using RTI to reduce disproportionality and the achievement gap.
Webinar and Upcoming Live Chat
Resources for RTI at the Secondary Level
What resources are available for RTI at the secondary level? In this Webinar, “Resources for RTI at the Secondary Level” NCRTI staff member Jessica Agus highlights online resources that can be used to plan and implement Response to Intervention (RTI) at the secondary level. View this webinar from our website at your convenience or download it to your mp3 player or other device to watch on the go. After watching the webinar, e-mail us your questions at RTIWebinars@air.org.
Follow-up Live Online Chat
A live online chat focused on “Resources for RTI at the Secondary Level” will take place on May 26th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm Eastern. At this time, Ms. Agus will answer the questions you submitted via e-mail as well as any additional questions that come up during the online chat. To participate in the live, online chat, go to www.rti4success.org and click on "Join our Live Chat." Note that this will not be available until 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the chat.
Ask the Expert Video:
“Why is culturally responsive instruction important within an RTI Framework?” Watch the video of Dr. Beth Harry, Professor and Chair, Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Miami, as she answers this question. You can also view and/or download all the Ask the Expert videos on our website.
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Idaho Features RTI and the Early Warning System at State Title I Conference
On April 6-8, 2011 Idaho’s State Department of Education held a Title I Conference, The Next Generation of Learners: Catching their Dreams. The goal of the conference was to provide examples of successful practices and the work of noted authors and researchers to Idaho's educators. Amy Peterson and Jenny Scala from the NCRTI Technical Assistance team presented “What is RTI: Response to Intervention for Continuous School Improvement.” The session focused on the essential components of RTI, using the tools charts, resources from the Center, and the connection between RTI and school improvement to teachers, paraeducators, school counselors, and school, district, and state administrators. Ms. Scala also presented with Lindsay Fryer on behalf of the National High School Center. Their presentation, “Early Warning Systems to Identify Students At Risk for Dropping Out of High School and Monitoring Their Response to Intervention,” focused on describing the elements of an effective early warning system, providing a demonstration of the National High School Center’s free warning system software, and reviewing the seven-step implementation process. Learn more about the conference by visiting Idaho’s Title I Conference website.
Missouri Holds Train the Trainer Workshops Focused on Progress Monitoring
On April 6 and 7, 2011 Missouri held a train the trainer workshop on progress monitoring. Rebecca Holland presented the second module (in a series of three beginning implementer training modules developed by NCRTI) to 32 Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) Consultants. Under the leadership of Thea Scott, Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Three Tiered Models Coordinator, the training series was designed to respond to a demand for a set of training materials with a consistent message about the essential components of RTI. The first training in the series, which focused on screening, occurred in February and the final training, focusing on the multi-level prevention system, will occur in June. To learn more about the work in Missouri, visit their website.
West Virginia Pilots NCRTI RTI Reporting System
West Virginia is piloting the NCRTI RTI Reporting System to collect data at the school level related to RTI implementation. The reporting system includes both a self appraisal, focused on implementation and based on NCRTI’s essential components, and a student tracking component, focused on tracking student level information related to RTI including movement between levels, screening, progress monitoring, and referral to special education. On April 25th, schools learned about the two components of the system, the information being collected, and how to use the system. Lessons learned from using the RTI Reporting System in West Virginia will help to improve the Reporting System for future users. |
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RESOURCES FROM OUR PARTNERS |
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Tech Matrix Provides Information on Assistive Technologies to Assist Students
Created and maintained by the National Center for Technology Innovation and the Center for Implementing Technology in Education, the TechMatrix can be used to find state-of-the-art educational and assistive technologies that improve learning for students in general and special education settings. You can search by content area (e.g. math, science, reading, writing) or by hot topics (e.g. differentiated instruction through technology, transitioning with technology) to find resources that fit your needs. The site also provides consumer reports to help administrators learn what questions to ask and how to make informed decisions relating to education technology including information on the alignment of standards and curriculum goals, implementation of technologies, scientifically-based research, funding for purchasing educational technology, and legislative mandates such as IDEA and NCLB. Visit the NCTI’s website to learn more about the TechMatrix and explore their available resources.
NCRTI Presented at CEC Annual Convention and Expo
NCRTI staff gave a number of presentations at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)’s Annual Convention and Expo that took place April 25-28, 2011 at National Harbor, MD. Drs. Allison Ghandi and Katie Tackett provided participants with an opportunity to interact with the Center’s tools charts and learn about “Identifying the Right Tools and Interventions for Effective Response to Intervention.” Jess Agus and Jenny Scala along with representatives from the National High School Center and Center on Instruction presented on planning tools that can assist practitioners in developing a conceptual framework and implementation plan for RTI in high schools in “Planning Tools for Response to Intervention (RTI) Implementation”. Drs. Katie Tackett, Allison Ghandi, and Maury McInerney from NCRTI, Larry Wexler from OSEP, and Rebecca Zumeta from Washington State participated in a panel entitled “National Center on Response to Intervention: Increasing Supply-Demand for Evidence-Based RTI Practices.” Drs. Katie Tackett and Lou Danielson also participated on a panel entitled “From Research to Implementation of Response to Intervention Practices” that focused on U.S. Department of Education (ED) sponsored studies and technical assistance on RTI including recent trends in special education identification, implementation of RTI across the U. S., evidence-based RTI practices, and ED-supported technical assistance. The portion presented by Drs. Tackett and Danielson, is titled, Implementation of Response to Intervention.
Upcoming RTI Talk: Speech-Language Pathologists and RTI
Join Drs. Barbara Ehren and Maureen Staskowski at 1:00pm EDT on Thursday May 12, 2011 for the next RTI Talk focused on “Speech-Language Pathologists and RTI.” Learn about the roles that Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can play within an RTI framework and the changes required in terms of assessment approaches as well as models of intervention and instructional support. During the talk, Ehren and Staskowski will answer your questions about SLPs in RTI and offer tips and examples. You can submit questions in advance, find additional resources and join the chat by visiting the website.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION |
Duncan declares “ALL MEANS ALL”
“I want to say—here and now, for the record—we are moving away from the 2 percent rule,” he stressed. “We will not issue another policy that allows districts to disguise the educational performance of 2 percent of students.” Instead, he continued, “We have to expect the very best from our students—and tell the truth about student performance—so that we can give all students the supports and services they need.” In prepared remarks to the American Association of People with Disabilities, Secretary Duncan declared students with disabilities should be judged with the same accountability system as everyone else. Click here to learn more and watch a video of Duncan’s remarks. |
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This is the National Center on Response to Intervention's monthly e-newsletter, the RTI Responder! We share the latest research findings about RTI, related information from our partners and the federal Technical Assistance and Dissemination network, as well as the policies, strategies, and techniques that states have developed to implement an RTI model. We hope that you find this newsletter pertinent and informative.
The National Center on RTI Staff
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