LAC 28:CI.301. Response to Intervention

A. The Response to Intervention (RTI) process is a three-tiered approach to providing services and interventions to struggling learners and/or students with challenging behaviors at increasing levels of intensity. Essential components of the process include three tiers of instruction and intervention, use of standard protocols and/or problem-solving methods, and an integrated data collection/assessment system to inform decisions at each tier of instruction/intervention. The process incorporates increasing duration and frequency of intensities of instruction and/or intervention that are provided to students in direct proportion to their individual needs. Embedded in each tier is a set of unique support structures or activities that help teachers implement, with fidelity, research-based, high-quality instructional materials, instructional practices aligned to core curriculum, as well as direct and explicit interventions designed to pinpoint a student’s area of need, to improve student outcomes, and to provide access to the general curriculum. RTI is designed for use when making decisions in both general and special education, creating a well-integrated system of instruction and intervention guided by student outcome data. B. Special education and related services referrals and evaluations should not be delayed or denied based solely on the required movement through tiered intervention prior to referral. C. RTI Tiers. 1. Tier 1 is universal instruction and practices provided to all students. 2. Tier 2 is targeted instruction and practices provided to some at-risk students. 3. Tier 3 is intensive instruction and practices provided to a few students with significant support needs. D. Essential components of the RTI process also include standard protocols and/or problem-solving methods, an integrated data collection and assessment system, and the use of data to monitor student progress and inform instructional adjustments and other key decisions at each tier. Best practices for an effective RTI process include the following: 1. Ensure all struggling learners have access to 100 percent of core instruction in math and reading, and that additional tiered supports are provided in addition to, not instead of, core instruction; 2. Tier 2 targeted and Tier 3 intensive academic interventions are used to backfill missed content, to clarify misunderstandings, to pre-teach upcoming skills, and are closely aligned with the core curriculum. 3. Academic interventions are provided by professionals with training, background, and content experience for teaching the specific content. 4. Behavior interventions are provided by professionals with training, background, and behavior support expertise regarding challenging behaviors. E. RTI decisions are made collaboratively by both general education and special education professionals to create an integrated system of instruction and intervention guided by student outcome data.