Legal & Ethical Guide by Monica Ford https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s How Response to Intervention Works en-us 2021-12-01 05:47:58 UTC 2021-12-04 02:26:48 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #1 Professional Perspective/Audience/Topic mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922091737 My professional perspective is an elementary (K-5) principal providing information to all faculty and staff who work with students.  The topic is: How Response to Intervention (RtI) Works in Elementary K-5. 

This topic is interesting due to the lack of systematic structure across districts and even schools in the same district of the RtI process both academically and behaviorally.  It is interesting that disparity of intervention in reading and little to none on math. Due to the lack of equity for reading and math intervention, a student who needs early intervention in both subjects, might always struggle in math because of the importance of early reading intervention.  Thus the achievement gap is still there along with the student potentially at-risk their entire academic life.  Reading may close that specific gap, but the gap is widening in math.  When looking at data, an achievement gap is not selective in content but overall achievement.  Reading skills are absolutely important and necessary to have a successful academic career.  The question is, how far does the achievement gap need to widen in math before it holds the same equity as reading intervention?  

There has also been an uptick in undesired student behaviors with outbursts, physical aggression towards others, sensory overload, etc., since post-COVID.  RtI has the same tier framework for behavior as it does for academics but it just has not caught on yet.]]> 2021-12-01 05:53:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922091737 Slide #2 Summary of Topic mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922094238 The lockdown of schools forced by COVID in 2020, has widened the achievement gap that is recognized in the beginning and middle of year campus and district assessments in 2020 and 2021, especially in 1st and 2nd grade.  The achievement gap has also widened in 4th and 5th grade as indicated on 2021 Spring STAAR.  The lockdown has also created more behavioral challenges as evident in the increase in office referrals, room clearings, and outbursts across the campus that affect academic achievement.  RtI is as important now than ever before to close the achievement gap and provide intervention for students' social emotional well being through Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS).

Due to the underwhelming results of 2021 STAAR, House Bill 4545 was passed over the summer of 2021 to accelerate instruction for students who did not meet STAAR requirements, and for our campus, those our 4th and 5th graders for this school year.  The bill requires 30 tutoring hours of accelerated instruction in each content area (reading, math) for students who did not meet STAAR requirements in hopes of narrowing the achievement gap caused by COVID.  (TEA, 2021).  Students receiving academic intervention have increased on our campus making it imperative that we intervene early to close and eliminate any achievement gaps.  

H.B.4545, 87th regular session (2021). https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/house-bill-4545-implementation-overview



]]> 2021-12-01 05:56:01 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922094238 Slide #3 Professional Association mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922094960 This is a great resource that provides information on PBIS that works for every student to promote desirable behaviors that will improve achievement in the classroom.  PBIS is the RtI of behavior that uses research based strategies just like reading and math intervention.

National Education Association (2014). Positive behavioral interventions and supports : A multi-tiered framework that works for every student [Policy Brief]. National Education Association. https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/PB41A-Positive_Behavioral_Interventions-Final.pdf]]> 2021-12-01 05:56:46 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922094960 Slide #4 Current News Article mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922095893 Key points of article:
  • COVID's detrimental affect on academic achievement and the increased number of students who need intervention with Title 1 schools hit the hardest.
  • COVID's significant impact on students' social emotional well being
  • Tutoring is beneficial for students who need intervention with the same teacher/tutor but schools find it difficult to service the high number of students who are required to receive tutoring.
Heubeck, E. (2021, October 12). Intervention. Education Week. https://fs24.formsite.com/edweek/images/11-4-2021_Intervention_Sponsored.pdf 
]]> 2021-12-01 05:57:40 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922095893 Slide #5 Current News Articles mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096135
  • COVID has accelerated the learning gap with students in a low socio-economic status being the most vulnerable.
  • Teachers need help to close the achievement gap that COVID has widened.
  • In lower socio-economic homes, adults are often unavailable or unequipped to help their children with school work.
  • To aide the urgency of closing the gap and provide support to the teachers and students, hiring high-quality tutors is not only an option but almost necessary to bridge gaps in reading and math.  Having online tutors is helpful to students who do not have an adult that is available to help with their education.
    • Pearson. (2021, October 25). 4 realizations that will help close learning gaps, Pearson.  https://www.k12dive.com/spons/4-realizations-that-will-help-schools-close-learning-gaps/608161/
    ]]>     2021-12-01 05:57:56 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096135     Slide #6 mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096404 Constitutional Law: 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution (U.S. Const. Amend. XIV). 

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv

    This law provides equal rights including the right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all students.]]>     2021-12-01 05:58:13 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096404     Slide #7 mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096549 Statutory Law: Right to Information Concerning Special Education and Education of Students with Learning Difficulties Texas Education Code § 26.0081(d).

    https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/ed/htm/ed.26.htm

    This statute states parents must be notified if their child is recommended for intervention services for behavior and/or academic reasons.]]>     2021-12-01 05:58:22 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096549     Slide #8 mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096666 Judicial Law: 2006 School Board of Independent School District No.11 v. Renollett (School Board of Independent School District v. Renollett, 440 F.3d 1007 (8th Cir. 2006) 207 Ed. Law Rep. 36 (2006).

    https://1-next-westlaw-com.easydb.angelo.edu/Document/I88b5d7dfb50a11dab6b19d807577f4c3/View/FullText.html?navigationPath=Search%2Fv1%2Fresults%2Fnavigation
    %2Fi0ad6ad3a0000017d64da6c77c58963f9%3Fppcid%3D5db7af7d35ec403a85ae07c8a2cbe674%26Nav%3DCASE%26fragmentIdentifier%3DI88b5d7dfb50a11dab6b19d807577f4c3%26parentRank%3D0%26startIndex%3D1%26contextData%3D%2528sc.Search%2529%26transitionType%3DSearchItem&listSource=Search&listPageSource=1f4dc327197494e399497bc80021dd62&list=ALL&rank=1&sessionScopeId=35df2f27c0e9661cdfcaf84c5f1b3bb35b09124619bb08024a7dcfeed447266a&ppcid=5db7af7d35ec403a85ae07c8a2cbe674&originationContext=Search
    %20Result&transitionType=SearchItem&contextData=%28sc.Search%29

    Josh Renollett was a student receiving special education services who took the school district to court believing that he was not afforded a free and appropriate education. He believed that he was not provided a behavior intervention plan (BIP) in his IEP, did not “meet the standards of the State educational agency, did not provide intervention strategies for his behavior, and other educational related arguments.]]>     2021-12-01 05:58:30 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096666     Slide #9 mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096810 Administrative Law: Students with Dyslexia and Related Disorders 19 TAC §74.28.

    This statute states a required process for early intervention for dyslexia or any other learning difficulty as well as a requiring public and charter schools a program for intervention.

    https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?
    sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=2&ch=74&rl=28]]>     2021-12-01 05:58:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096810     Slide #10 mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096947 Local Law: Curriculum Design and Special Programs. Abilene Independent School District . (2020). Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/1118?filename=EHB(LEGAL).pdf

    This policy states the requirements of parental notice and what it must include, dyslexia information, screening, testing, monitoring, and identification of students for dyslexia and any
    other learning difficulties.]]>     2021-12-01 05:58:51 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922096947     Slide #11 Ethical Principle mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922097079 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators: (F) Standard 1.6. The educator shall not falsify records, or direct or coerce others to do so. (19 TAC §247.2 (F)).

    This code is connected to RtI in that teachers and/or tutors may be tempted to falsify time due to the increase of students receiving RtI along with the required hours of HB4545. Staff may also improperly document students receiving RtI to accelerate the referral process to Special Education. 

    Texas Code of Ethics and Standard Practices, Tx. Stat. §247.2 F (1998). https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2]]>     2021-12-01 05:58:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922097079     Slide #12 Non-law Source mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922098061 This is a great resource that provides information on what RtI is and the basic components.  This article breaks down the three tiers of intervention that a student goes through. 

    RTI Action Network (n.d.) What is rti? RTI action network a program of the national center for learning disabilities.  Retrieved December 2, 2021, from http://www.rtinetwork.org/learn/what/whatisrti ]]>     2021-12-01 06:00:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922098061     Slide #13 Recommendations/Best Practices for Compliance mford121 https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922098526 Best Practices for How RtI Works:
    • It is legally required to intervene with students who are struggling academically and behaviorally to close the achievement gap and promote desired behaviors.
    • Proper documentation of students receiving services is imperative.
    • Documentation of dates and times is necessary for HB4545 to ensure compliance.
    • Parents/guardians must be notified of students recommended for RtI services.
    • COVID has had a significant effect on learning loss and social emotional issues in the classroom.
    • Early intervention is key to closing and/or eliminating the achievement gap.
    ]]>     2021-12-01 06:00:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mford121/haq81m2rx7hu110s/wish/1922098526