Response to Intervention (RtI)

In 1996, the Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) developed the Comprehensive Student Support System (CSSS) that encompass the entire school system. It envisioned a system with a single focus that would provide every student the support that was needed to succeed. Hawaii’s Response to Intervention (RtI) Framework corresponds to and expands on the first three levels of the CSSS Framework.

- To provide instruction for all students that was based on quality based scientific best practices in every general education setting.
- To provide additional support for those students who show needs through universal screening in the general education setting.
- To provide intensive intervention for those students who have had limited progress in areas of targeted interventions.

Response to Intervention (RtI) does not take the place of any specific curriculum or program. It assists in providing students increasingly intensive education intervention instruction on basic foundational skills to help students struggling in core subjects due to limited skills. RtI depends on systematic measure of student’s progress through data.

The Comprehensive Student Support System's Response to Intervention (RTI) outlines a model of support that can help students achieve learning goals and perform at their highest potential. In Solomon's commitment to helping all students succeed, we have put into place a universal screener (iReady diagnostic) to identify students performance levels on basic skills of Math and Reading.

Response to Intervention is a general education initiative that is intended for ALL students. There are three levels or Tiers of RtI.

Tier 3, represents about 5% of a school population. These student need more intensive instruction in basic foundational skills.
Tier 2, is about 10 to 15% of the school population. These students need some assistance that can be provided in the general education classroom.
Most students are in Tier 1 (80 to 90% of the school population). These students learn through normal classroom instruction with no added assistance needed.

All students take the diagnostic assessment through iReady in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. This provides one piece of data on how a child is understanding various components of Reading and Mathematics. The data gathered is used by the teachers to plan interventions for their students. Currently those students with the most needs, Tier 3, receive additional direct instructional services from Part Time Teachers (PTT) 4 times a week for 30 minutes in a separate setting with peers on their same ability level. Students in Tier 2 and Tier 1 also receive RTI services from their homeroom teachers during the same block of time.

In addition Solomon Elementary uses the iReady instructional online program. This program uses data from the initial assessment to provide skill lessons that focuses on the student's area of need. Parents may access this program at home to work with their child, see your child's teachers for details on how to do this. Access iReady through the Clever single sign-in platform.

Every effort at Solomon Elementary is being taken to provide your child with the best learning experience possible. With your help we will be able to do just that. Remember to read with your child daily, discuss interesting subjects that you can both explore in written form, and encourage your child to seek help when needed. Together we can all make a difference in the life of your child.