May 27, 2009 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 first Virtual Visit showcases Boulevard Elementary School in Gloversville, New York, which has been successfully implementing RTI for several years. Listen to Principal Tom Komp and his staff as they discuss their success and their challenges as well as critical RTI issues like scheduling, core instruction, and using data to make educational decisions. Let Boulevard Elementary School walk you and your team through the RTI process!   Screening for Reading Problems in Grades 1 Through 3 The latest article in the "Screening for Reading Problems in an RTI Framework" series by Drs. Evelyn Johnson and Juli Pool provides an overview of existing screening measures targeted at students in grades 1—3. Learning to read is arguably the most important work of students in the early elementary grades and universal screening within an RTI framework is an important tool in the process of identifying students who require early intervention. Find out more about the numerous screening and diagnostic measures of reading available. Upcoming RTI Talk:  'Effective Teaming and Collaboration within RTI' June 4, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. ET Join members of the RTI team from Drexel Hill Middle School in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania as they answer your questions about school-wide approaches to collaboration and teaming to meet the needs of all learners within an RTI framework. Principal Jonathan Ross and the Drexel Hill RTI team members will share lessons learned and important outcomes from implementing RTI. Submit advance questions for the discussion now or simply join the chat live on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH Must you assess a student before determining intervention strategies? Dr. Daryl Mellard notes that intervention selection needs to be based on the assessment of the student’s knowledge, skills, and abilities.   He elaborates on the procedures that need to be in place before such strategies are determined, emphasizing that school staff and parents should review and implement interventions and accommodations very early in the school year. Read his full response to this question of the month. » Virtual Visit  Principal Tom Komp, of Boulevard Elementary School in Gloversville, NY, shows student data.   The RTI ACTION NETWORK is on Facebook! Become a fan and get connected. Visit our page now!

RTI Blog: Ocean View's Journey In the latest RTI Blog, Principal Lauren Campsen of Ocean View Elementary Maritime School describes how data-based decision making led her school to being recognized as a National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School in 2008. Although Ocean View was low-performing and non-accredited in 2002, Principal Campsen demonstrates that demographics do not predict student achievement when educators effectively implement RTI.

		NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS 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 nationally recognized experts and RTI implementers provided guidance on using data from multiple assessment functions to support and empower educator decision making within an RTI framework.   Education Secretary Seeks Your Comments Secretary Arne Duncan has taken his listening tour online and invites your comments on various topics such as raising standards, strengthening teacher quality, using data to improve learning, and turning around low-performing schools. He wants to hear from classroom teachers and other educators, parents and students, business people and citizens about what’s working, and what’s not?   Building Blocks for Literacy The Stern Center for Language and Literacy launched a new, online course, BUILDING BLOCKS FOR LITERACY. This course can be taken free by anyone interested in improving children's future reading success, and certification credit is available for providers. Visit the site to participate in the self-paced course and discussion forum.    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.

A Program of:

The RTI Action Network is made possible by the generous support of Cisco Foundation.

Founding Partners: AFT, IRA, NAESP, NASDSE, NASP, NASSP, and NEA.

Do you enjoy RTI in Action? Click here to become a FRIEND of NCLD today and help support NCLD's RTI Action Network programs. The National Center for Learning Disabilities is listed by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All gifts made to NCLD are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Unsubscribe from receiving email, or change your email preferences.