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.
- As required by Tier 1 of IDEA, Project SKIP provides online screening for social-emotional, cognitive, and developmental delays. Through that 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%) are given a cognitive screener that is administered by the teacher and interpreted by Dr. Bonny Forrest. It is anticipated that by Fall of 2009 this administration can take place online. This screener will provide a greater understanding of a student's difficulties sooner and allow a more targeted and successful intervention to be designed.
- 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.