RTI addresses the needs of most students through primary instruction, providing secondary interventions for students not meeting certain criteria and reserving tertiary interventions for students with the most significant instructional needs.

Terminology

 “RTI” & “Tiered Interventions”

• “RTI” addresses specific aspects of the Response to Intervention framework, or research related to Response to Intervention.
• “Tiered interventions” describes the types of tiered supports in the school setting.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is the application of the RTI framework for the prevention of behavior difficulties. PBIS requires the use of continuous monitoring, databased decision making, and an intervention continuum.

With effective implementation of PBIS, the majority of students demonstrate appropriate behavior within the general education classroom without additional supports, thus saving the more intensive interventions (e.g., social skills classes, individualized behavior interventions) for the students who require these interventions.

For more information on PBIS, visit the OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Web site: PBIS