"Mellard and Johnson not only help us understand what RTI is and why we need it, they go the next step and tell us how to make it happen." —Joseph Jenkins, Professor of Special Education University of Washington "This is a richly informative book on a most important and timely topic to hundreds of thousands of practitioners, parents, and policy makers." —Doug Fuchs, Nicholas Hobbs Chair in Special Education and Human Development Vanderbilt University The nuts-and-bolts handbook for implementing RTI schoolwide! Written by leading special education researchers with the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities and the University of Kansas, this comprehensive yet accessible reference provides administrators with practical guidelines for launching RTI in their schools. Highlighting the powerful role that RTI can play in prevention, early intervention, and determining eligibility for special services, the authors cover the three tiers of RTI, schoolwide screening, progress monitoring, and changes in school structures and individual staff roles. The text includes: Site-based examples and student case studies A discussion of the challenges to successful implementation A section on frequently asked questions RTI: A Practitioner's Guide to Implementing Response to Intervention is an invaluable resource that helps administrators increase the likelihood of success for students at risk and meet the requirements of NCLB, Reading First, and the reauthorization of IDEA 2004.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. Introduction: What Is RTI? RTI as a Three-Tiered Model Purposes of RTI Research Support for RTI Summary References 2. RTI in the Context of Policy Initiatives Policy Coherence, Professional Learning Communities, and the Professional Teaching and Learning Cycle Key Elements of NCLB 2001 Key Elements of Reading First Key Provisions of IDEA 2004 Summary References 3. Schoolwide Screening Definitions and Features Implementation Changing Structures and Roles Challenges to Implementation Screening in Practice Summary Resources References 4. Progress Monitoring Definitions and Features Implementation Changing Structures and Roles Challenges to Implementation Progress Monitoring in Practice Summary Resources References 5. Tier 1: General Education Definitions and Features Implementation Changing Structures and Roles Challenges to Implementation Summary Resources References 6. Tier 2: Intervention Definitions and Features Implementation Changing Structures and Roles Challenges to Implementation Summary Resources References 7. Tier 3: Special Education Definitions and Features Implementation Changing Structures and Roles Challenges to Implementation Tiered Service Delivery in Practice Summary Resources References 8. Fidelity of Implementation Definitions and Features Implementation Changing Structures and Roles Challenges to Implementation Summary Resources References 9. Conclusion Frequently Asked Questions About RTI Conclusion References Index