Blumberg Center for
Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education

Project for responsive educational systems

Tiered Framework Foundations

General Description

A tiered educational framework, often used interchangeably with Response to Intervention or Response to Instruction, is a systemic process that uses educational decisions based on assessment and progress monitoring data to ensure ALL students learn.  Indiana’s Vision of RTI details a framework for prevention, advancement, and early intervention, which involves determining whether all students are learning and progressing optimally academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally when provided with high quality instruction that addresses all aspects and needs of students.  RTI offers the opportunity to integrate, collaborate, and cooperate across all educational initiatives to ensure educators prepare all students for their futures.

For many, the implementation of tiered systems constitutes a change from current practices that will unfold over time. Many schools already implement various components of tiered prevention and intervention systems, and current practices and school improvement activities identified in PL221 and accreditation plans should guide future implementation efforts.

picture of three interlocking tiers

Academic RTI Behavior RTI
Tier 1 Tier 1
All Students
Preventative and Proactive
Aligned and Mapped Curricula
Above Grade Level Curriculum for Advanced Core
Research-Based Instructional Strategies
Differentiated Instruction
Universal Interventions and Supports
Universal Screening
Formative and Summative Assessments
Progress Monitoring
Data-Based Decision Making
Assessment of Implementation Fidelity
All Students
Preventative and Proactive
Schoolwide Positive Behavior Expectations Matrix 
    (3-5 Expectations and Indicators by Location)
Universal Screening through Data Analysis
Teaching Behavior Expectations
Acknowledgement of Appropriate Behaviors
Correcting Problem Behaviors using Evidence-Based  
     Strategies
Universal Interventions and Supports
Progress Monitoring
Data-Based Decision Making
Assessment of Implementation Fidelity
 Tier 2 Tier 2
Small Group Instruction
Instruction and Support Supplemental to Core
     Instruction
Above Grade Level Curriculum for Advanced Core
Targeted Research-Based Interventions
Formative Assessment
Progress Monitoring
Data-Based Decision Making
Assessment of Implementation Fidelity
Small Group Instruction
Instruction and Support Supplemental to Core
     Instruction
Targeted Evidence-Based interventions
Progress Monitoring
Data-Based Decision Making
Assessment of Implementation Fidelity
Tier 3 Tier 3
Individual/Very Small Group Instruction
Instruction and Support Supplemental to Core
     Instruction
Classes Specifically Designed for High Ability Students
Intensive Research-Based Interventions
Increased Frequency
Longer Duration
Formative Assessment
Progress Monitoring
Data-Based Decision Making
Assessment of Implementation Fidelity
Individual Instruction
Instruction and Support Supplemental to Core
     Instruction
Intensive Evidence-Based Interventions
Increased Frequency
Longer Duration
Progress Monitoring
Data-Based Decision Making
Assessment of Implementation Fidelity
   

Related Resources

Electronic:

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
www.ascd.org

Deschler, D. Implementing RTI in Secondary Schools www.signetwork.org/Docs/CallNotes/2008/oct/DeshlerRTIHighSchoolv3.pdf

Designing Powerful Professional Development for Teachers and Principals
www.nsdc.org/library/leaders/sparksbook.cfm

Differentiating Instruction: Finding Manageable Ways to Meet Individual Needs
www.ascd.org/

Indiana’s Vision of RTI Guidance Site
www.doe.in.gov/rti

Intervention Central
www.interventioncentral.org

IRIS Center
iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu

National Association of Directors of Special Education
www.nasdse.org

National Association of School Psychologists
www.nasponline.org

National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems
www.nccrest.org/index.html

National Center on Learning Disabilities
www.nrcld.org

National Center on Response to Intervention
www.rti4success.org

National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
www.studentprogress.org

National Staff Development Council
www.nsdc.org

OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports;
www.pbis.org

RTI Action Network
www.rtinetwork.org

RTI Tools
www.rtitools.com

Using RTI for Indiana’s Students
www.doe.in.gov/indiana-rti/docs/2009-03-12-RTIGuidanceDocument.pdf

Printed:

Batsche, G., Elliott, J., Graden, J.L., Grimes, J., Kovaleski, J. F., Prasse, D., Reschly, D.J., Schrag, J. and Tilly III, W. D. (2005). Response to intervention: Policy considerations and implementation. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Directors of Special Education

Brown-Chidsey, R., & Steege, M.W. (2005). Response to intervention: Principles and strategies for effective practice. The Guilford Press

Colvin, G., & Kameenui, E.J. (1993). Reconceptualizing behavior management and school wide discipline in general education. Education and Treatment of Children, 16(4), 361-382.

Fuchs, D., Mock, D., Morgan, P. L., & Young, C. (2003). Responsiveness-to-intervention: Definitions, evidence, and implications for the learning disabilities construct. Learning Disabilities: Research and Practice, 18, 157-171.

Kuh, G.D., Kinzie, J., Schuh, J.,H., and Whitt, E.J. (2005). Assessing Conditions to Enhance Educational Effectiveness: The Inventory for Student Engagement and Success. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco.

Tilly ,W. D.& Grimes, (1998). Curriculum-based measurement: One vehicle for systemic educational reform. In Shinn, M.R. Advanced Applications of Curriculum -based Measurement.

Shores, C., & Chester, K. (2009). Using RTI for school improvement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Mellard, D. F., & Johnson, E. (2008). RTI: A practitioner’s guide to implementing response to intervention. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Fuchs, D. & Fuchs, L. (2006) Introduction to Response to Intervention: What ,why, and how valid is it? Reading Research Quarterly, 41, 1, 93-99.