Response to Intervention (RTI)

What Is Response to Intervention?

According to the RTI Action Network, "Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered approach to help struggling learners. Students' progress is closely monitored at each stage of intervention to determine the need for further research-based instruction and/or intervention in general education, in special education, or both."

Resources on this page are organized around the three tiers associated with RTI:

• Tier 1: Whole-class materials
• Tier 2: Materials for targeted groups (e.g., English language learners and underachieving populations)
• Tier 3: Materials for individuals requiring special and individualized interventions

Tier 1: Whole-Class Materials

ASCD has a rich set of resources that can be used to promote the achievement of all students.

Implementing Research-Based Teaching

• PD In Focus (online service)
• Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching, 2nd Edition (book)
• Professional Development for Differentiating Instruction: An ASCD Action Tool
• The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction (book)
• Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition (book)
• How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, 2nd Edition (book)
• Educational Leadership, September 2006: Teaching to Student Strengths (theme issue)

Classroom Management 

• Classroom Management That Works: Research-Based Strategies for Every Teacher (book)
• The Educator's Guide to Preventing and Solving Discipline Problems (book)
• Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community (book)
• Classroom Management That Works (DVD)
• Educational Leadership, September 2008: The Positive Classroom (theme issue)

Closing Achievement Gaps

• Educating Everybody's Children: Diverse Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition (book)
• Closing the Achievement Gap: A Vision for Changing Beliefs and Practices (book)
• Building Background Knowledge for Academic Achievement: Research on What Works in Schools (book)
• Detracking for Excellence and Equity (book)
• Managing Diverse Classrooms (book)
• Building Background Knowledge Through Wide Reading: A Five-Step Process (DVD)
• Educational Leadership, November 2004: Closing Achievement Gaps (theme issue)

Effective Assessment Practices

• The Power of Formative Assessment to Advance Learning (DVD)
• Transformative Assessment (book)
• Checking for Understanding: Formative Assessment Techniques for Your Classroom (book)
• How To Give Effective Feedback to Your Students (book)
• Classroom Assessment and Grading That Work (book)
• How To Informally Assess Student Learning (DVD)
• Educational Leadership, December 2007/January 2008: Informative Assessment (theme issue)

Tier 2: Materials for Targeted Groups

ASCD has a rich set of research-based resources that can be used to promote the achievement of students in targeted groups.

English Language Learners

• Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners (book)
• Getting Started with English Language Learners: How Educators Can Meet the Challenge (book)
• Strategies for Success with English Language Learners: An ASCD Action Tool
• Raising the Literacy Achievement of English Language Learners (DVD)
• Educational Leadership, April 2009: Supporting Language Learners (theme issue)

Struggling Students

• Educating the Whole Child: An ASCD Action Tool
• Getting to "Got It!": Helping Struggling Students Learn How to Learn (book)
• Preventing Early Learning Failure (book)
• Classroom Strategies for Helping At-Risk Students (book)
• Teachers as Classroom Coaches: How to Motivate Students Across the Content Areas (book)
• Breaking Through Barriers to Achievement (DVD)
• Educational Leadership, February 2006: Helping Struggling Students (theme issue)

Tier 3: Materials for Students with Special Needs

ASCD has a rich set of research-based resources that can be used to promote the achievement of students with special needs.

• Designing Personalized Learning for Every Student (book)
• Creating an Inclusive School, 2nd Edition (book)
• Personalizing the High School Experience for Each Student (book)
• Educational Leadership, February 2007: Improving Instruction for Students with Learning Needs (theme issue)