Schools

Response to Intervention

Under the mandates of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) through provisions that require Response to Intervention (RTI), schools should provide a systematic method of identifying children with Specific Leaning Disabilities (SLD).

Up until this point, few comprehensive screening programs have been implemented in schools. Most schools are uncertain how to meet the broad mandates of RTI. Project SKIP helps meet schools' obligations to meet federal requirements through a multi-layered approach.

  • As required by Tier 1 of IDEA, SKIP I provides on-line screening for social-emotional, cognitive, and developmental delays—including autism spectrum disorders. Through this screening, children who do not respond to interventions are identified earlier. More importantly, the reasons for their difficulties are identified sooner and, therefore, teachers will find it easier to design research-based, class-wide interventions to which they will respond.
  • As required by Tier 2, children who are identified in Tier 1 as having greater difficulties in the classroom even with quality instruction (typically less than 20%) participate in SKIP II and are given a cognitive assessment developed specifically for Project SKIP. At the moment this screener is administered by the teacher and interpreted by and provides a greater understanding of a student's difficulties sooner and allows a more targeted and successful intervention to be designed. Ultimately, SKIP II will also be available on-line.
  • Finally, in Tier 3, for those students having the greatest difficulty, Project SKIP preserves local autonomy for additional assessment, so that districts can make use of existing contracts and relationships in the community. Dr. Forrest can provide additional documentation and support as required by Tier 3 of IDEA when an SLD is identified.

With SKIP, the reasons for student difficulties are identified sooner, making it easier for teachers to design research-based, class-wide interventions.