What is Tier

Response to intervention (RTI) is a method for classifying students with a learning disability. In collaboration with pertinent school staff, the general education teacher designs interventions for students who struggle with core academic skills such as reading, writing, and/or math; the teacher or other school personnel (e.g., paraprofessionals) then implements the interventions. If students do not improve, this data is used to substantiate the students’ classification with a learning disability. Providing individual or small-group interventions can pose a real challenge for general education teachers given the typical demands they face in managing a classroom. To help address this, assistive technology can provide a means for students to practice and develop skills as well as have ongoing data about their progress—without ongoing involvement by the teacher. Assistive technology can be an efficient component in the RTI process.