January 20, 2010 ACTION UPDATE

Virtual Visit: RTI in Action The RTI Action Network travels to schools across the nation to find examples of real people doing real work with RTI. The second Virtual Visit showcases Tigard High School in Portland, Oregon, which has been successfully implementing RTI for several years. Listen to the Tigard team as they discuss their success and their challenges implementing RTI at the high school level as well as critical RTI issues like scheduling, screening and instruction, and using data to make educational decisions. Let Tigard High School walk you and your team through the RTI process from beginning to end!     Tiered Instruction The heart of any Response-to-Intervention model lies in the use of tiered instructional processes. In this article, Dr. Edward Shapiro discusses key elements to providing tiered instruction, such as the differentiation between tiers, collaboration across all education professionals in the building, and the establishment of a workable schedule that maximizes school personnel resources. The article includes a sample school schedule using a daily time block for tiered instruction.   Upcoming Webinar: RTI in Middle Schools February 9, 2010, 2-3 p.m. ET During this webinar, Dr. Daryl Mellard and Sarah Prewett will provide an overview of a nationwide study of middle schools that exhibit exemplary RTI practices. Information will be shared about scheduling; staff buy-in; preparation, planning and training for RTI; benefits to students and staff; challenges, next steps, and advice from several middle schools. This webinar is presented by the National Center on RTI, in collaboration with the RTI Action Network. Pre-registration is not required for this free event. For more information, visit the Center's website.

Help Us Make a Big Difference! We're always looking to improve what we do here at the RTI Action Network, and now we're asking for your help to do it! We'd like to know how we have helped you, your students, your school, or your community. Please take a few moments and send us your comments (just 1-2 sentences) explaining how the RTI Action Network has had an impact on your work.   Please submit your comments to: RTIANFeedback@ncld.org   Thank you for for helping to make a difference!     Comment from a Reader: "Going through your Web site, I was able to better educate myself and hold intelligent conversations with the school and together make a difference in my child's education. I have made this information available to other parents who have found it a good resource. Thank you!" Nittin Chandran, Parent Franklin, MA

Pre-K Voices from the Field In the latest Voices from the Field story, Mary Anne Lesiak, Director of Education at the AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation, a public charter school serving three-and four-year-old children, describes the process they went through to develop an RTI model for their pre-kindergarten program. Learn how AppleTree uses the RTI framework as a means of accelerating learning to close the achievement gap before children enter kindergarten.

		NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS RTI Talks RTI Talks are monthly, live, web-based discussions of the issues related to the effective implementation of Response to Intervention instruction model and related issues critically important to frontline educators and families. Look for future announcements of upcoming topics and dates, including "Implementing RTI in Middle Schools." To read transcripts from Past Talks, visit RTI Talks and click on the topic you wish to review.   REL-NEI and REL-West Webinar On January 28, 2010 from 3–4 p.m. ET, researchers at the REL Northeast and Islands and REL West will talk about their review of state education agency (SEA) policies and supports for RTI in 16 states. To register for the Webinar, please visit the REL Northeast and Islands Web site.   Technical Assistance for RTI The National Center on RTI has a new process for states to request technical assistance (TA) from their center. They provide 3 levels of TA: Universal, Targeted and Intensive. To access the online TA request form, please visit the Center's Web site.

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