Response to Intervention…. More Than Six Data Points

1. Response to Intervention….More Than Six Data Points Andrea Ogonosky, Ph.D., LSSP, NCSP Licensed Psychologist aogonosky@msn.com (832)656-0398

2. Agenda • Technical Adequacy of Process • District Expectations • Multiple Sources of Data • Staff Knowledge • Leadership

3. Technical Adequacy The District Guidance Document

4. RtI: Problem Solving Interventions Assessment Student Instructional Level Supplemental Interventions 120 min per week additional Progress Monitoring Diagnostics 5% Progress Monitoring Diagnostics Student Instructional Level Supplemental Interventions 90 min per week additional 15% Universal Screening Progress Monitoring Grade Level Instruction/ Support 80%

5. The Reality of Striving for the Goal of Change… “I was so excited about RtI -I went about enthusiastically building a technically sound guidance document. As I began to work with staff on implementation [from the cultural perspective of shifting the way we think about problem solving] I realized suddenly that to me, RtI had become…. One swirling VORTEX OF TERROR!” ---Dr. Quentin Woods, Pine Tree ISD RtI

6. Pair and Share • Have you ever felt like this? Why? • What has been your greatest challenge? On a scale of 1-5 where is your district as far as implementing a true problem solving process centered around Tier 1? Do you continue to hear staff refer to RtI as a referral process or a documentation journey on the road to special education?

7. From the Student Perspective The Goal is to create… Academic Learning, Mastery, and Achievement Independent Learner

8. RtI Foundations for Success • Multiple Tiers of Instruction and Assessment • Using Data: Balanced Assessments • Technology • Highly Qualified Staff

9. The strongest processes that show sustained student growth are those that go beyond technical adequacy…. They are ones that promote a cultural responsiveness to the learning needs of all students (think Tier 1- 8-%)and are not dependent on a rote “decision rule” of six points on a graph.

10. Let’s start at the beginning…. RtI Is not simply implementing a different type of problem solving. It also involves giving up certain beliefs in favor of others. Systems will need to change….

11. Response to Intervention

12. Leadership The road to student success begins here….

13. Critical Leadership in RtI

14. Strong Administrators Ensure fidelity by having meaningful conversations with staff about data. Create a culture of common values and work together to achieve common goals. Provide clear staff expectations Creatively allocate limited resources to ensure personnel have access to necessary supports.

15. Essential Tasks for Leadership Team

16. Campus Culture

17. Question “Ifaneducatorkeepsusingthe samestrategies over and over andthestudentkeepsfailing, who Who reallyis theslowlearner?” Michael Rettig Professor, Emeritus James Madison University

18. Variables affecting Culture • Resiliency: Over 40% of teachers do not make it to their 5th year of teaching- many leave by year 3. • Encouragement of Innovation: PD to support advances in technology. Teachers reinforced and encouraged for “thinking outside the box”. • Quality of Student teacher relationships

19. The use of technology makes ongoing data collection, data consumption, and data-based decision making a more plausible proposition, and it can keep these important aspects of RtI from monopolizing teacher time

20. “The highest predictor of academic achievement is the proficiency of teachers in effective instructional practice.” Donna Walker Tileston Why Culture Counts

21. The most important aspect of a strong RtI process is the richness of the conversations that occur because of the layers of multiple occurring data sources.

22. It is essential to implement bothProfessional Learning Communities (PLC) and Response to Intervention (RTI) because these complementary processes are considered research-based best practicesto improve student learning.

23. Connections • What exactly do we expect all students to learn? • How will we know if they’ve learned it? • How will we respond when some students don’t learn it? • How will we respond when some students have already learned? • Core program • Standards • Alignment Documents

24. Connections • What exactly do we expect all students to learn? • How will we know if they’ve learned it? • How will we respond when some students don’t learn it? • How will we respond when some students have already learned? • Progress monitoring • Universal screener • Diagnostic assessments • Formative Assessments

25. Connections • What exactly do we expect all students to learn? • How will we know if they’ve learned it? • How will we respond when some students don’t learn it? • How will we respond when some students have already learned? • Differentiated Strategies • Interventions • Decision rules • Protocol

26. Connections • What exactly do we expect all students to learn? • How will we know if they’ve learned it? • How will we respond when some students don’t learn it? • How will we respond when some students have already learned? • District Expectations • Decision rules • Protocol

27. PLC Essential Characteristics RTI Fundamental Elements • Collective responsibility and teaming • Universal screening and progress monitoring • Systematic interventions and decision protocols • Research based core program and interventions • Focus on learning and collaborative culture • Focus on results (data driven) • Action experimentation • (is your system able to respond) • Collective inquiry

28. Underscoring a Problem “Most teachers just do not possess the skills to collect data, draw meaningful conclusions, focus instruction, and appropriately follow up to assess results. That is not the set of skills we were hired to do.”

29. Balancing Assessments -- Assessment systems -- Multiple measures -- Varied types -- Varied purposes -- Varied data sets -- Balanced with needs

30. Align Data Sources • Does the data tell a clear and concise story of the student’s learning? • If there is inconsistency team must investigate why • Review integrity of instruction • Align to student needs • Student variables Universal Screening Progress Monitoring Diagnostic Assessments • Outcome Assessments

31. You must have multiple sources of data to have effective data-driven instruction.With that said, assessing students whilethey are learning yields real time data to steer teachers towards differentiated practices.

32. Assessment and Instruction are inseparable. “Assessment is today’s means of understanding how to modify tomorrow’s instruction.” Carol Tomlinson

33. Question Do your teams spend more time talking about individual kids or do they spend time more time on the needs of ALL kids?

34. Team Philosophy • The 1st intervention is always effective classroom instruction and classroom management which yield high rates of academic engagement. • The team always uses the model of problem solving-consultation- instruction/intervention approach.

35. Characteristics of a Strong Data Team • Meeting Norms • Process of Collecting Meaningful Data • Culture of Collaboration • Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum • There is a process to measure where students are in the curriculum. • There is a RtI plan in the school district to help students who are not achieving or who are excelling

36. Problem Identification • Review existing information • Determine student’s functional level • Identify initial concerns • Analyze multiple data sources • Operationally define the problem

37. Existing Data Review • Determine the Student’s Current Classroom Status: Academic Progress and Work Samples • Teacher Describes and quantifies concerns • Review of Records • Parent Contact(s) • Medical Information • Classroom Observations (ICEL)

38. Determine Student Functional Levels • Identify assets and weaknesses • Identify Critical Life Events, Milestones, Circumstances (Positive and Negative) • Identify medical and/or physiological sources of concern • Identify academic variables such as “speed of acquisition” or retention of information • Identify issues of attendance, transitions, motivation, access to instruction

39. Identify Initial Concerns • RtI team is available for any academic, behavioral, teacher or student concern. • Teacher reports concerns in a data oriented manner. • Team aligns concerns with data sources

40. Supplemental Supports • Do your students show movement in the Tiers? • How long is too long? • Do you have students who are referred and then DNQ? What happens next? Do you have teams that are reluctant to move kids out of Tiers because they are successful?

41. Monitor Fidelity • Intervention Well Checks • Observe in Tiers 1 and 2/3 • Consult with Teacher • Review data weekly in PLC/ Planning meetings • Check data collection • Talk to parent

42. Tips for Moving Forward • Be aware of appeals to mindless precedent. • Make sure the system of intervention is fluid. • Systems of intervention work better when they are supporting teams rather than individual teachers. • Realize that no support system will compensate for bad teaching. • Ensure a common understanding of “system of interventions.”

43. I am happy to help you! Questions? aogonosky@msn.com (832) 656-0398