Meeting the Needs of Significantly Struggling Learners in High School

Author: Duffy, H.
Publisher: National High School Center
Publication Date: 2007, August
Full text available online at: http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSC_RTIBrief_08-02-07.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

While much of the research on Response to Intervention (RTI) is focused on identifying elementary school students with disabilities, this National High School Center article explains the advantages to secondary students of RTI being "applied more broadly across schools as a diagnostic approach that shapes instruction and informs decisions about intervention, and eligibility for special programs.” (Batsche et al., 2005) After defining RTI, this brief discusses different implications of the application of RTI at the high school level. For example, RTI’s tiered intervention may need to be accelerated or more flexibly applied at the high school level than at the K-8 level. As well, the school staff must be ready to identify academic and behavioral challenges that either remain unidentified or that are emergent. The needs of students transferring into a high school from other districts should be addressed as well. One way is to screen students in reading, writing, and math upon arrival in high school. Students who in middle school had been receiving supplemental services, such as tutoring, need to be monitored once they become high school students.

The authors enumerate the following key issues related to RTI at the high school level:

1. Identify screening and progress monitoring tools for high school students across subject areas.
   
   
2. Identify high school appropriate intervention models that work across subjects.
   
   
3. Consider implementation issues unique to high schools.
   
   
4. Examine the changing roles for general and special education teachers.
   
   
5. Determine universal instructions across content areas.
   
   
6. Ensure structural supports for professional collaboration.
   
   
7. Ensure ongoing professional development.
   
   
8. Expand parent communication.

The article provides an example of the strategies, tactics and curricula employed by one school district in implementing RTI in its high schools. A list of relevant resources is also provided.