RtI refers to a specific set of interventions to support students who struggle to make progress in the general education settings. Fuchs and Deshler emphasized that teachers need to understand the conditions and contextual factors of RtI within a school district that may influence its implementation. Implementing these reforms requires ongoing professional development, clear expectations for RtI implementation, teacher cooperation, and substantial time to unify these procedures into personal and institutional practices.
RtI implementations tend to lack teacher support, training, and utilizing resources effectively. Implementing systemic reform requires teachers to develop their teaching skills in selecting interventions and conducting assessments to meet students’ needs. Even for generally effective interventions, there is likely to be a substantial proportion of non-responsive children. Learning in the first few weeks of the intervention may be a useful indicator of appropriate response to treatment and could inform instructional decisions.
This study explored teachers’ knowledge of RtI, perceptions of RtI intervention/instruction tiers in their school, and suggestions for RtI implementation. Specifically, to identify the differences in teacher perceptions and if there is a consensus among teachers of the meaning of RtI and its effectiveness for struggling elementary students.
This study will examine and review the effectiveness of having a special education, resource teacher present in the classroom during Mathematics and Language Arts Literacy. In the state of New Jersey, students are issued a state assessment in the content area of Mathematics and Language Arts Literacy, and having a resource teacher present for students with Individual Education Plan (IEP)allows for differentiated instruction in the classroom environment. This study shows the effectiveness of having a special education teacher who can give one-on-one instruction to children who may struggle with the General Education curriculum. The presence of another teacher in the general education setting allows instruction to take place at different levels of understanding for students who need additional guidance for proficiency in the subject area.