Tier 1 Core Instruction should be fully aligned to RIDE-adopted content standards and implemented using high-quality curriculum materials:

• RI Social and Emotional Learning Standards:  Competencies for School and Life Success 
• RI Content Standards for ELA/Literacy, Mathematics and Social Studies
• Next Generation Science Standards
• World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA)

MTSS, (formerly known as RTI) is a component of the Rhode Island Comprehensive Literacy Guidance which supports educators in better understanding the components of literacy and implementation of best practices in daily instruction. Included are strategies, methods, and resources for assessment, intervention, and literacy in the content-areas.

A Comprehensive Assessment System is essential to a fully functioning MTSS process.

Data-Based Problem Solving:  Effective Implementation of MTSS, RTI, and PBIS - An NCLD White Paper, 2019 Engage in free online learning about core/Tier 1 in MTSS through BRIDGE-RI

RTI/MTSS & COVID-19: 3 Steps to Regain Control the RTI/MTSS Team can follow the recommendations shared here to replace COVID-19 chaos with order, assisting their schools with the continuing mission to deliver timely academic support to their most vulnerable learners.

Distance Learning MTSS Framework - Academic Engagement and Attendance Strategies from IES for all 3 tiers 

Maintaining Screening and Progress Monitoring Practices in Virtual/Remote Settings  This resource includes guiding questions for implementation and a video example of how to conduct an Oral Reading Fluency assessment with students virtually with screen share.  

National Center on Intensive Intervention

• Sample lessons, activities, and standards relevant instruction for MTSS behavior, math, and literacy
• Data meeting tools for Intensive Intervention
• Data-Based Individualization Training Series
• Intensive Intervention: A Practitioner's Guide for Communicating with Parents and Families

New!  MTSS for All:  Including Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities  This brief provides suggestions for ways in which MTSS can include students with the most significant cognitive disabilities and make MTSS fully inclusive of all students. 

Mathematics Institute for Learning Disabilities and Difficulties (tools related to lessons, scaffolding, vocab, assessment, misconceptions)

• Fractions
• Ratios/Rates
• Facts & Patterns
• Proportionality

RethinkRI: 
K-8 Academic Intervention Systems (AIS)

RethinkRI AIS is a two-year initiative that will support LEAs to build a more equitable, coherent and sustainable response to intervention system (within a MTSS Framework) by expanding access to high quality technology based and teacher-led tools to support intervention and data-based decision making in grades K-8. 

Rationale

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been essential for LEA’s to utilize instructional methods that are flexible and allow for both synchronous and asynchronous educator intervention that is both technology-based and educator-led. When students return to in-person learning this fall, these same tools will continue to enable LEAs to provide supports for students beyond their Tier 1 high quality curriculum

RIDE selected Lexia Learning Systems, Inc. for a literacy intervention systems partner and Achieve 3000 Math for a math intervention systems partner, through a request for proposals (RFP) process earlier this year.  This opportunity will support LEAs with additional tools and resources as part of their broader Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. Together, students and educators will engage with a broad range of meaningful content in literacy and mathematics that is both technology-based and educator supported.   

Educators will receive training and licenses to launch in time for the 2021-22 academic year. We ask LEAs to work with their school leaders to identify schools and/or grade levels to target and select either literacy or math intervention for Year 1 (by school). 

RIDE is inviting LEAs to submit a participation application before June 14 to be selected for this two-year initiative using this link. 

• You cannot save your responses and return to your application later but you can make a copy of this question template to draft your responses in advance. 
• LEAs selected to participate will need to sign an MOA of their commitment to the program. 

Available Funds 
This program requires a 2-year commitment and is made possible through the RethinkRI federal grant. Funding will include a number of AIS sites and/or student licenses.  In addition, funding will cover teacher training, coaching, and professional learning sessions with the AIS vendors. 

RethinkRI AIS Expectations

• Student identification for Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention by September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022. For those schools selected for Lexia Learning, Inc., there will be an option to also use Lexia Core5 and PowerUp as a Tier 1 supplement to the LEA’s High-Quality Curriculum.

• Attend all trainings, engage in support from vendors, and coordinate digital licenses for students and staff identified for this program.
• Articulate how the supplemental intervention fits in and is supportive of current High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) usage and the MTSS process.
• Examine data and commit to refining a plan to support ongoing implementation with support from our vendors.  
• Annual reflection of progress to date and program survey feedback

Timeline 

• May 2021: Partnership Announced 
• Early June: Information sessions with Lexia Learning, Inc. & Achieve 3000
• June 14: Participation Survey Deadline 
• June 30: Program Participants Selected 
• July/August 2021: LEA/School Point of Contact available for calls and coordination of launch deliverables 
• September 2021-June 2022: Year 1 Implementation 
• Quarterly (2021-22, 2022-23): Community of Practice sessions for program participants (substitute pay provided) 
• Academic Intervention System (AIS) Training Summer 2022 (June 2022)
• Optional Summer Session 2022 Implementation
• September 2022-23: Year 2 Implementation 

Questions?

• Please contact Jennifer.LoPiccolo@ride.ri.gov for more information. 
• Check back here for links to additional information and responses to frequently asked questions.