Ask the Experts

Research Support for RTI

I am looking for any sources, research on the financial impact of RTI either because of reduced special education numbers or the impact on general education in any way.

Response from Anna Munson, MBA, St. Louis Public Schools:

It is often stated that RTI would represent a cost savings to districts/LEAs based on several assumptions:

Reductions in referral and identification of LD
Focused comprehensive evaluations requiring less testing
Fewer students needing special education services, causing a decrease in the number of special education teachers, aides, etc.
Incidental savings such as an increase in attendance, which many states use to calculate funding for districts

The assumptions are reasonable based on what we know about RTI, however, there is little quantifiable data to use as support for the claim that it will actually save dollars. Since there is no official RTI program or model, it would certainly be difficult to conduct a true cost analysis that accounts for and/or eliminates variables such as program design and integrity. A cost savings could likely be projected for a well designed program, but those savings wouldn’t be realized if the program was poorly implemented.

There are reports published by individual intervention programs capturing potential cost savings for implementation of the program, using assumptions similar to those listed above. One of these is Reading Recovery.

You can also review an Early Learning Foundation report that offers cost savings after having implemented an early intervention program. The savings are calculated as a reduction in referrals, and a corresponding reduction in the number of special education staff in later years.

It’s a logical conclusion that these reports of cost savings could be representative of those a district could achieve with any legitimate RTI program, as they are based on the same core list of assumptions. There is just not a lot out there for RTI cost/savings analysis. This may be an area where some money could be available for research.

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