June 25, 2009 ACTION UPDATE

Creating Shared Language for Collaboration in RTI Collaboration among educators and with students and families is key to the successful implementation of RTI. In this article developed on behalf of the International Reading Association's Commission on RTI for the RTI Action Network, Barbara Ehren, Barbara Laster, and Susan Watts-Taffe explore the language used around RTI and its essential processes and offer a tool to help school-based teams create a shared language for successful collaboration. Read more to learn how to create a common language framework in your school and to access the tool "Determining Our Language of Collaboration." RTI and Instruction at Ocean View In her latest blog, Principal Lauren Campsen describes how Ocean View Elementary applies the idea of tiered intervention to reading instruction, yielding impressive results. She believes that when educators provide students with the data-based tiered intervention that they need, scores go up for all groups and achievement gaps narrow. Read her new blog to discover how Ocean View's tiered reading intervention process works and submit your comment today! (Also available: Principal Campsen's June 9th blog, "RTI and Math Instruction at Ocean View"). Creating Capacity: Preparing Educators for RTI The National Education Association (NEA) and the RTI Action Network co-sponsored a symposium last fall on Response to Intervention and the importance of teacher preparation and professional development. View the archived videos from "Creating Capacity: Preparing Educators for RTI" featuring nationally renowned RTI experts. The symposium suggests recommendations and next steps for both practice and policy to address RTI, teacher preparation, and professional development issues. The archive will be available through the NEA Academy on July 1, 2009.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH In regards to implementing RTI at the secondary level, how do you address the issue of universal screening? Dr. Evelyn Johnson suggests that it may be helpful for educators to select or develop screening instruments that measure factors that conceptualize successful high school graduation as the outcome of interest for RTI.   She also identifies several good resources to help schools find appropriate screening and progress monitoring tools. Read her full response to this question of the month. »   RTI in Action Take a Virtual Visit to Boulevard Elementary School in Gloversville, New York to see examples of real people doing real work with RTI!

RTI National Online Forum The RTI Action Network in collaboration with the National Center on Response to Intervention presented an RTI National Online Forum, "Data-Based Decision Making." View the archived webcast in which Lynn Fuchs, Joseph Kovaleski, and John Carruth provided guidance on using data from multiple assessment functions to support and empower educator decision making within an RTI framework. The webcast also includes PowerPoint slides, recommended readings, and suggested discussion questions.

		NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS RtI Innovations Conference The National RtI Innovations Conference registration is now underway. The conference will take place September 24-25, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The purpose of this conference is to provide innovative ideas in implementing Response to Intervention at the pre-service, building, district, and state levels.   RTI State Database The National Center on RTI's State Database consists of information on each state's RTI framework, RTI-related State Performance Plans or State Professional Development Grants and use of RTI for Specific Learning Disability eligibility. In addition, the database offers resources developed by states, districts, or territories in the U.S. on a variety of topics related to RTI.   New Resource on Using ARRA Funds The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation has released information about the use of ARRA funds related to children who struggle to learn. For more information and to provide feedback, visit http://www.smartmoneywisechoices.org/.   AFT Conferences The American Federation of Teachers' (AFT) Educational Research and Dissemination (ER&D) Professional Development Program will host its first annual RTI Institute, July 22-26, in Baltimore, Maryland. The Institute participants represent educators, related service providers, and local leaders in various phases of RTI implementation. Participants will gain a greater depth of understanding of RTI implementation and will utilize many resources provided through the RTI Action Network and its contributors.   On July 13-15, during AFT's bi-annual professional issues conference, "QuEST 2009: Investing in our Future," a RTI conference Academy will be held and will feature speakers, materials, and other resources from the RTI Action Network.

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