An Examination Of Specific School Leadership Characteristics Related To Implementation Of A Response To Intervention Model

Response to intervention (RTI) is described as the practice of providing high-quality instruction and intervention that is matched to student need, frequently monitoring student progress, and using that data to inform decision making. RTI is often used to identify students with learning disabilities. However, it is suggested that one of the greatest potential benefits of RTI is to meet the instructional and behavioral needs of at-risk students. This study examined the extent to which four leadership characteristics-associated with principals' roles and related to RTI implementation- were exemplified, along with the degree to which they were present in Mississippi secondary schools. To measure this, the researcher developed an instrument based upon Spiegel's (2009) framework and conceptualized within the constructs described in Glover and DiPerna (2007).--Partial abstract.

Response to Intervention (RTI) is an intervention model designed to assist all students regardless of their academic ability. It seeks to assist students who are struggling in academics by providing them with targeted assistance in the form of tutoring, pull-out services, and differentiated classroom instruction. Examining Response to Intervention (RTI) Models in Secondary Education highlights the application of the RTI model to secondary schools through instructional strategies and real-world examples of how this model can be used at the middle and high school levels. Through a series of informative and timely chapters written by global educational specialists, this publication is ideally designed for use by middle and high school teachers and school administrators as well as professors and students in upper-level Educational Leadership and Secondary Education programs.

Providing a unique "on-the-ground" perspective, this book examines the implementation of three empirically supported response-to-intervention (RTI) models in four different school districts. The book addresses the complexity of putting RTI into place in the elementary grades, showing how the process actually took place and what impact it had on school climates and student learning and behavior. The challenges of systems change are explored and key lessons identified for improving intervention outcomes. Invaluable reproducible tools developed and field tested during the implementation of each model can be downloaded and printed by purchasers in a convenient full-page size.

The purpose of this two-case study was to describe the perceptions of middle school administrators and teachers concerning leader behaviors throughout the implementation of Response-to-Intervention (RTI) programs. The theory which guided this study is transformational leadership theory (Bass, 1990) as it related directly to how administrators and teachers perceive leadership behaviors throughout the implementation of RTI programs. The importance of this study is significant to administrators, teachers, and other educational stakeholders as it is directly related to implementation of RTI programs in school, which aid in enhancing student performance. Participants included 2 administrators and 10 teachers who are employed at two public middle schools in Georgia. Photocopying of related program documents with permission, detailed note-taking during semi-structured interviews and focus groups, digital recording and transcription, along with maintaining a chain of evidence were methods used for data collection. Direct interpretation, pattern analysis, cross-referencing of documents and participant responses, and cross-case synthesis were utilized as data analysis methods. The results of the case study revealed perceptions that the importance of consistent and specific RTI communication throughout the implementation process cannot be underestimated when administrators are attempting to implement a school-wide program with numerous intangible and tangible components. Further qualitative studies that examine the impact of the application of transformational leadership characteristics affects on RTI program success are recommended in order for a systematic training approach to be developed for school leaders.

The Handbook of Leadership and Administration for Special Education brings together research informing practice in leading special education from preschool through transition into postsecondary settings. The second edition of this comprehensive handbook has been fully updated to provide coverage of disability policy, historical roots, policy and legal perspectives, as well as effective, collaborative, and instructional leadership practices that support the administration of special education. It can be used as a reference volume for scholars, administrators, practitioners, and policy makers, as well as a textbook for graduate courses related to the administration of special education.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Response-to-Intervention (RtI) involves evaluating the degree that students (a) master academic material in response to effective instruction and (b) demonstrate appropriate, prosocial behavior in response to effective classroom management. When students are not progressing or “responding,” academically or behaviorally, to effective instructional conditions, RtI includes a functional assessment/problem solving process to determine the reason(s) for the lack of success, and the implementation of strategic through intensive interventions to help those students progress and be successful. At an operational level, RtI is often described as working within a flexible, three-tiered system that is guided by students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. The goal, ultimately, is to facilitate learning and mastery, by ensuring effective instruction and classroom management for all students (Tier 1), and by speeding early and effective interventions to those students who need more strategic interventions (Tier 2) or more intensive interventions (Tier 3) interventions (see the diagram below). Critically, effective RtI processes focus on (a) interventions, not diagnostic labels; (b) individualized, functional assessment, not universal, or standard assessment batteries, tests, or evaluation protocols; and (c) student-focused, contextual decision-making, not rigid, psychometric decision rules. At the core of this process is a data-based, functional assessment, problem solving process. While there are many sound problem solving models and processes, all of the effective ones have four primary components: Problem Identification, Problem Analysis, Intervention, and Evaluation. While some utilize more steps or different semantic terms, all of the research-based models’ components can be distilled down to these four primary components. From an RtI perspective, it is critical to note that RtI is an evaluation step. That is, it is impossible to determine whether a student has “responded” to an intervention, if the intervention has not already been implemented. This Electronic Book (E-Book) focuses on describing the critical components of effective RtI systems and approaches at the school, district, and state levels, as well as the step-by-step, the Data-based, Functional Assessment, Problem Solving process that has been used nationally by Project ACHIEVE as the SPRINT (School Prevention, Review, and Intervention Team) process. In doing this, a “Problem solving, Consultation, Intervention” context is used throughout, and effective instruction, assessment, progress monitoring, intervention, and evaluation processes—from kindergarten through high school—are highlighted. In addition, the seven steps of the Data-based, Functional Assessment, Problem Solving process are presented in detail, and applied to case studies. Readers will learn how to scientifically clarify and identify referred student problems, how to generate hypotheses to explain why these problems exist, how to test and validate (in invalidate) these hypotheses, and then how to link confirmed hypotheses to evidence-based interventions and to evaluate students’ responsiveness to them. Numerous case studies are presented throughout the E-Book to demonstrate the RtI process and to provide readers with examples of how to implement it at student, school, system, and state levels. Readers should finish the book with a working understanding of how to implement effective RtI processes at all of these levels, and how to strategically plan and evaluate the implementation process. var __chd__ = {'aid':11079,'chaid':'www_objectify_ca'};(function() { var c = document.createElement('script'); c.type = 'text/javascript'; c.async = true;c.src = ( 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://z': 'http://p') + '.chango.com/static/c.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(c, s);})();

Develop and monitor high-quality IEPs for diverse learners High-quality IEPs are fundamental for guiding the educational process of and developing goals for students who require special education services. English learners (ELs) and other students with learning, emotional, or behavioral disabilities present unique challenges to educators responsible for referring, assessing, and placing them. IEPs for ELs provides educators with numerous research-based strategies and examples of how to write effective IEPs for these K-12 learners. John J. Hoover and James Patton, leading professionals in the areas of special education and linguistic diversity, share their research and how they have supported ELs who have, or are suspected of having, learning and intellectual disabilities. Readers will find: Practical guidance for developing and monitoring culturally and linguistically responsive IEPs Checklists, guides, and other reproducibles that support IEP development Case studies and vignettes highlighting examples of appropriate IEPs for diverse learners Filled with expert practical advice that covers the IEP process and walks the reader through the procedure for creating high-quality IEPs that take individual differences into account, this guide is essential for special educators and bilingual/EL specialists. "A major strength for this book is its unique tie to English learners, while providing a dual focus on IEP writing. This is a great tool to use when training new special education teachers and IEP facilitators. There are direct connections to writing legally defensible plans with a user-friendly focus on IEP writing. I see this book as a tool to support teachers and students in ensuring that language and cultural considerations are included when developing and updating individual plans." —Renee Bernhardt, Supervisor, Special Education Cherokee County School District, GA

This book explores the importance of effective classroom assessment to student achievement and the role of school leaders to model and spark positive change through building teacher literacy, providing targeted professional development, acquiring appropriate technology, and more. With insights from expert practitioners, this book helps schools make the shift to best-practice assessment for districtwide improvements in student learning. Benefits • Identify the characteristics of an effective, balanced assessment system. • Find insights into how principals can best support improved assessment practice in the classroom. • Create professional development opportunities that build schoolwide assessment literacy. • Learn about assessment technology tools, including what to look for, how to use them, and what to expect from staff. • Incorporate data analysis that staff will commit to and use to improve student learning. • Understand the advantages of implementing standards-based grading and reporting. • Gain strategies for using assessment processes to engage learners at risk.

This qualitative study examined effective leadership in implementing second-order change within the educational system. Specifically the study looked at seven second-order leadership responsibilities identified by Marzano et al. (2005) as essential to effective second-order change within the context of the implementation of a Response To Intervention Model (RTI). The perceptions of building principals and faculty participants were analyzed to determine their belief that the seven leadership responsibilities are present in their building. In addition, perceptual as well as hard evidence was evaluated to determine the presence of key elements of the RTI model in each building. The study employed three methods of data collection: questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and checklists. Building principals and faculty participants completed questionnaires that included statements linked to the seven second-order leadership responsibilities, second-order change thinking and RTI key elements. The questionnaires provided perceptual data for the study. In addition, the faculty participants completed a Concerns Based Adoption Model Stages of Concern questionnaire that provided quantitative information on faculty perception of the change to the RTI model. Semi-structured interviews provided a rich, thick description that added depth to the analysis of the perceptual data. Finally, an on-site checklist was completed that provided hard evidence of key elements necessary for effective implementation of the RTI model. The results of this study showed that building principals and faculty participants believed that all seven second-order leadership responsibilities were present in their buildings to varying levels. Knowledge of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Optimizer, Intellectual Stimulation, Monitoring/Evaluating, and Ideals/Beliefs were identified as the leadership responsibilities present to some or a large degree in their buildings. The leadership responsibilities of Change Agent and Flexibility were more variable in their perceived presence in the building.