Tiered Service-Delivery Model

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Responsiveness to intervention (RTI) is a multi Tiered Service-Delivery Model. Although much discussion continues surrounding the issues of how many tiers constitute an adequate intervention, RTI is most frequently viewed as a three-tiered model, similar to those used for service-delivery practices such as positive behavioral support.

Because schools may decide to implement more than three tiers of intervention, we have adopted the following labels for use in discussing tiered service delivery:

  • Tier 1 refers to primary supports for students in the general education classroom.
  • Tier 2 and beyond refers to secondary-level interventions in specialized groups for at-risk students. In practice, schools may have more than one tier in this category.
  • Special education refers to specialized and individualized interventions for students with intensive disabilities.

Like other models, RTI is meant to be applied on a school-wide basis, in which the majority of students receive generally effective, scientifically based instruction in Tier 1, the general education classroom. Students in Tier 1 who are at risk for reading and other learning disabilities are identified through school-wide screening for more intense support in Tier 2 and beyond interventions. Students who fail to respond to the interventions provided in Tier 2 and beyond may then be referred for an individualized, comprehensive evaluation and be considered for specialized instruction in special education.

More information about service delivery at each level: