RtI is a framework being used across the country as school systems seek ways to provide early assistance to students experiencing academic and/or behavioral difficulty. It is a problem-solving approach for guiding instruction for all students who need assistance—both general and special education. It is also a process that schools may use as part of the eligibility determination that a student is specific learning disabled (SLD) and needs special education and related services. RtI involves providing a student or small groups of students with high-quality academic and/or behavioral interventions matched to their need, and then monitoring the students’ progress frequently to see if there is a significant and positive response. How the students respond then serves as a guide for making educational decisions. Although RtI is a relatively new term, it simply represents a best practice for educating students using a scientifically-based and system-wide approach.
