Response to Intervention (RtI)

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) is a systematic approach to preventing and reducing students’ challenging behaviors in schools. Our specific SWPBIS work at the Beach Center focuses on creating a systemic approach to building school and district-wide capacity in an effort to support students with behavioral needs. This includes providing schools with technical assistance, staff training, and resources to improve student behavior. Please visit the national PBIS site, www.pbis.org for in-depth PBIS information and resources.

School Wide Applications Model (SAM)

SAM is a schoolwide response to intervention (RtI) model, which means school leaders and teachers use individual student achievement and behavior data to identify three tiers of supports, varying in intensity, for all students to progress and meet grade level expectations. Frequent and ongoing progress monitoring assessments help determine the instructional approaches best suited to meet each student’s needs.

Community RtI

Utilizing Response to Intervention (RtI) Strategies such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in new settings such as early childhood centers and community mental health agencies to deal with behavior challenges has been an ongoing goal of two researchers at the Beach Center on Disability.

RtI Leadership Preparation Grant

Photo of Response to Intervention (RtI) book cover

This project is funded by the federal government’s Office of Special Education Programs to pay tuition and a stipend to graduate students who are interested in learning how to use RtI in urban schools. The primary investigator for this grant, Dr. Wayne Sailor is a leader in the field of education reform and takes an active role in guiding the students through the Ph.D. program.