What Every School Leader Needs to Know About RTI

What is Response to Intervention and why should we care? With this question, Margaret Searle begins her exploration of the RTI approach to classroom instruction and intervention from her perspective as a seasoned teacher, principal, and administrator.

Built on a solid foundation of best practice, RTI draws on the strengths and successes that many districts and schools already have in place. For the plan to be effective, however, proactive and consistent leadership is essential. With this in mind, Searle outlines the critical roles played by school leaders at each step and offers practical answers to the questions they will likely face.

* Where should I start implementing or improving our RTI plan?

* Where do I find high-quality research-based interventions?

* What's a pyramid of interventions and what do I put in the tiers?

* How can I help teachers set and reach student goals?

* How is RTI different from what we've tried before?

* How can we make this whole thing work without going crazy?

Searle shows how school leaders can use the RTI model to coordinate resources and foster continuous student improvement and achievement. This breakthrough approach replaces the old "wait to fail" mind-set with proactive efforts that will support all students in danger of not reaching their potential.

This is an essential guide for school leaders who want to support, focus, and sustain their RTI goals and build a culture of data-driven decision making.