Eligibility for SLD Using RtI within a Multi-Tiered System of Support
Click to view the informational video (less than 15 minutes) featuring Drs. George Batsche and José Castillo.
In 2011 Florida’s statewide implementation of MTSS emerged for a more systematic approach to the state’s continuous improvement framework.
The purpose of the RtI Eligibility (RtI-E) Professional Learning Series is to support districts and schools in leveraging their knowledge, skills, attitudes, aspirations, and practices necessary to integrate and sustain RtI Eligibility for SLD within a comprehensive MTSS.
The RtI-E Professional Learning Series helps to enhance the capacity of all Florida school districts to inform the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of an integrated, aligned, and sustainable system of service delivery for a universal education. The partnership has three objectives:
- Development and ongoing use of a Community of Practice (CoP) to innovate and sustain this integrated MTSS effort for RtI Eligibility for SLD
- Increase the consistency and responsiveness of district and school level policies, practices and procedures to integrate RtI Eligibility for SLD within a comprehensive MTSS
- Increase understanding, capacity and fidelity with which districts and schools apply eligibility criteria for SLD
During the 2018-2019 school year, the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) sponsored a series of face-to-face regional meetings, webinars, and virtual meetings linked through the use of technology to increase district capacity to successfully use RTI within a MTSS as part of a comprehensive evaluation for SLD eligibility determination. Teams from forty-two districts completed the three Units and supplemental activities during 2018-2019, and those same teams are encouraged to continue with Unit 4 during the upcoming 2019-2020 school year. This original group of trained individuals comprise Cohort 1.
However, because not every district was able to participate in last year’s sessions and to create opportunities for school districts that did participate previously to have additional people participate, we are pleased to offer a “rerun” of Units 1 through 4 (consolidated into three units) for the 2019-2020 school year, forming Cohort 2. As with last year’s trainings, the focus of this series will extend to the development of standards-aligned IEPs and specially designed instruction. The goal is to create Professional Learning Partnerships between the FLDOE, discretionary projects, and districts that will support and sustain practices necessary to determine eligibility effectively and to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
Cohort 2 participation will be extended to district leadership team members that were not able to attend Cohort 1 offerings. However, it is recommended that at least one district team member from Cohort 1 participate in Cohort 2 for leadership alignment and continuity purposes.
Each Cohort 2 district team will select one school leadership team (a team that did not participate in Cohort 1) to participate with selected district leaders, with the goal of building internal district and school level alignment of practices and procedures to integrate RtI eligibility for SLD within a comprehensive MTSS approach. This Cohort 2 district and school level partnership will then be responsible for providing internal leadership and coaching to other educators across their district over time, in collaboration with those who participated in Cohort 1. The district and school level staff members who participate in the 2019-2020 RtI Eligibility (RtI-E) Professional Learning Series will comprise the “Cohort 2 Change Agent Team” for their districts and schools.
Each district leadership team will select one elementary school leadership team to participate in tandem, with the goal of building internal district and school level alignment of practices and procedures to integrate RtI eligibility for SLD within a comprehensive MTSS approach. This district and school level partnership will then be responsible for providing internal leadership and coaching to other educators across their district over time. The district and school level staff members who participate in the RtI-E Professional Learning Series will comprise the “Change Agent Team” for their districts and schools.
In addition, there will be a webinar on August 30, 2019, from 10:00 to 11:00 am (EST) designed for Cohort 1 registrants to provide an overview of information for the series and to provide specific instructions on registration. A flyer advertising this webinar can be found HERE. It is expected that those who plan to attend the upcoming RtI Eligibility Professional Learning Series for Cohort 1 will complete this webinar prior to the Fall sessions. Two pre-reading documents are also available for download — Florida Rule 6A-6.0331 and Florida Rule 6A-6.03018.
Registration Specifics
Registration specifics for these sessions have been communicated with all MTSS District Contacts. To avoid confusion, only one person per district can complete the registration process; ideally this will be the MTSS District Contact. If you are unsure of who your district contact is, or have additional questions about the team-based registration process, please email Judi Hyde the PS/RtI Communications Coordinator. Participation will be limited to five district-level team members and one elementary school-level team of five members (from one school). Districts considered “very large” (i.e., Broward, Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas) will be allowed to bring an additional elementary school-level team of five, if desired. There is no cost to these meetings, but attendees will be responsible for their own travel and lodging.
Suggested roles for the district team include: Assistant Superintendent, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Elementary Education, ESE Director, Student Services Director, School Psychology Supervisor, and/or District MTSS Coordinator. Suggested roles for the school team include: School Administrator, School Psychologist, Instructional Coach, ESE Staffing/Program Specialist for SLD, school MTSS coordinator, and/or guidance counselor.
Those who sign up to attend will be expected to participate in a multi-year partnership which will include a combination of face-to-face trainings, webinars, virtual meetings, and ongoing practical application of skills and practices with feedback from PS/RtI staff members and partnering district and school educators through a Community of Practice (CoP) approach. Due to the ongoing partnership design of this professional learning series, it is imperative that individual and team participation at both the district and school level remains consistent. Therefore, please consider this when selecting team members to attend.
Meeting Dates/Locations
Unit 4 (Cohort 1) |
Unit 1 (Cohort 2) |
Unit 2 (Cohort 2) |
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Unit 3 (Cohort 2) — In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Unit 3 (Cohort 2) face-to-face sessions have been converted to virtual modules and follow-up activities. |