Notes from…
The Boys Town
Learning Academy
Number 4 in a Series
Response to Intervention
As many schools move toward proactively addressing the academic and behavioral needs of their students
through multi-tiered systems of support, many parents have questions about what this means for their children. At times, it can be confusing, so it is important to reach out to professionals who can help you understand. Below are some answers to questions about the process of “response to intervention.”
What is “response to intervention”?
Response to intervention (RTI) is a strategy used by schools to identify and address learning and behavioral
needs of students. Within this process, there are different tiers that represent increasingly intensive levels of
support. Schools utilize data that is collected throughout the school year to determine how students are responding to the level of instruction that they are receiving. When students are not making progress at the
expected rate, they can receive more intensive supports to meet their needs.
What are “tiers”?
The tiers represent different levels of support for students. Schools and districts define what the tiers look like
at their school(s), but in general, the tiers follow the structure outlined below:

Tier I: High-quality classroom instruction and universal screening of all students
Tier I is available to all students. You can think of it as the “normal” classroom instruction that everyone receives. Teachers/schools also conduct general screenings of all students in this tier to better
understand their students’ needs and to identify students who need more support. Specific percentages will vary, but in general, about 80% of students will have their needs met by receiving Tier I
support.

Tier II: High-quality classroom instruction + small group interventions
For students who either are not responding to the level of support in Tier I or are not making progress
at the expected rate, Tier II is the next step. In Tier
II, students still have access to the same high-quality
instruction in their classroom, but they also receive
more intensive small group interventions designed to
target their specific skill deficits, and progress is monitored regularly. Approximately 15% of students who
did not respond to Tier I will have their needs met by
receiving Tier II support.

Tier III: High-quality classroom instruction +
intensive individualized interventions
For students who either are not responding to the level of support in Tier II or are not making progress at
the expected rate, Tier III is the next step. In Tier III,
students receive intensive individualized instruction to target their specific skill deficits, and their progress is monitored frequently. Tier III is usually made up of the remaining 5% of students.
If my child is receiving Tier II or Tier III services, is there something wrong with them? Are they
in special education?
The RTI model was developed as a way to provide support to students who are struggling when they first
show signs of needing it, rather than waiting for them to fall far enough behind that they qualify for special
education. Simply receiving services at a specific tier does not necessarily mean that your child is in special
education. Schools have their own process for identifying students for special education services. Some use
the data from the RTI process to help make informed decisions about whether or not a student qualifies, but
RTI is not the same as special education.
All students learn differently. By using this model, schools are able to meet the needs of all their students,
whether or not they have an identified disability, and use the
data that they collect to inform decisions that are made for students.
Where can I get more information about response to intervention?
Each school implements RTI in its own way. Therefore, if you
want to know more about how it is implemented at your child’s
school, contact the school psychologist or building administrator.
They will have specific information about what RTI looks like in
your school and for your child.
To learn more about the
Boys Town Learning Academy,
call 402-498-3358 or visit us online:
www.boystownpediatrics.org/counselingservices/Pages/Learning-Academy.aspx