Understanding the similarities between RTI2-A and RTI2-B can help educators implement the frameworks more effectively and efficiently. Last month, we described how the alignment of leadership, assessment, data-based decision making, and instruction and intervention helps schools and districts implement RTI2-A + RTI2-B. These essential components are represented in the red circles of the graphic above. In this post, we’re sharing the guiding principles and key features of effective RTI2-A + RTI2-B implementation.

Guiding Principles

Tennessee Department of Education has three guiding principles for strong Response To Instruction and Intervention frameworks. These principles — prevention and early intervention, a culture of collaboration, and leadership that ensures the success of all students — can be used to guide RTI2-A + RTI2-B implementation. They are represented in the blue ring on the above graphic.
In practice, implementation that follows the guiding principles looks like:

All Students

  • Delivering explicit instruction that is adapted to provide access for students below, on, and above grade level
  • Administering universal screening tools to all students 2-3 times per year to identify risk across multiple domains (e.g., reading, writing, behavior)
  • Ensuring every student, including struggling and advancing students, has the support needed to achieve success

Prevention and Early Intervention

  • Using multiple data sources to inform instruction and intervention
  • Ensuring policies and procedures describe and emphasize a proactive and responsive instructional approach to academic and behavior support
  • Training staff on a continuum of strategies to promote student independence, academic engagement, and behaviors that align with schoolwide expectations

Culture of Collaboration

  • Including representation from a range of key collaborators on the School Leadership Team to ensure alignment of RTI2-A and RTI2-B
  • Utilizing a schoolwide schedule that provides adequate time for staff to engage in collaborative, data-based problem solving and decision making for continuous improvement of instruction and intervention
  • Engaging in two-way communication with staff, district leaders, families, and community partners on progress and success related to RTI2-A + RTI2-B implementation and positive student outcomes

Key Elements

When the essential components of RTI2-A and RTI2-B are aligned, culturally responsive, and grounded in evidence-based practices, students are more likely to be equipped with the supports needed to achieve success. These key features of strong RTI2-A + RTI2-B implementation are represented in the dark gray ring on the above graphic. The table below shows what RTI2-A + RTI2-B does and does not look like when the features are present.

“Acknowledgements: The circle graphic is adapted with permission from: Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports at the American Institutes for Research. (2022). Welcome to the MTSS center. https://mtss4success.org/”