Pros and Cons of Response to Intervention

Response to Intervention (RTI) has been a hotly debated topic in the field of education since it was proposed. But what exactly is it?

According to the RTI Action Network, an organization designed to advance the program, RTI is "a multi-tiered approach to help struggling learners." Under this initiative, students would be closely monitored and an individual plan of action would be developed for the students in need. Essentially, all students fit into one of three categories (as indicated by the picture above), but each child is given a specific progress plan that coordinates to their needs. While the program itself sounds like a good idea, is it really worth the effort and money? What are the Pros and
Cons?

Pros

• Prevents students from being labeled as disabled
• Individualized progress plans are made that cater to a child's particular needs
• Struggling students are given the attention they need no matter what grade level they are in
• Can boost a child's confidence and motivation in their school work
• Can be used in multiple academic subjects
• Many adults are involved and invested in the child's progress

Cons

• Children are still classified
• Students may miss out on things in the normal classroom as they are pulled out for specialized instruction
• Could cause children to feel inadequate if they are not performing the same tasks as their classmates
• Expensive to hire specialists and train individuals in the program

For more information:

• Missouri Department of Education
  
• RTI Action Network
  
• Learning Disabilities Information