Referral letters should be individualized to reflect the student's needs, abilities, behavioral concerns, and academic concerns.

Referral letters should be individualized to reflect the student's needs, abilities, behavioral concerns, and academic concerns.

Our organization follows a similar tiered approach within the NAD REACH inclusion initiative.

• Screening all students to identify those at risk.

• Providing increasing levels of targeted instruction.

• Monitoring progress frequently to determine the effectiveness of interventions.

• Tier 1: High-quality, evidence-based core instruction provided to ALL students. (See Core Instruction Guide attached.)

• Tier 2: Targeted interventions for students who need additional support.

• Tier 3: Intensive, individualized interventions for students who need intensive support after receiving tier 1 and tier 2 supports.

MTSS emphasizes collaboration among educators, data-driven decision-making, and continuous progress monitoring to ensure student success.

The REACH Inclusion model mirrors the structure, emphasizing early identification, collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to inclusive education across all levels of support.

Tier 1: Implement universal supports for all!

Tier 1 instruction and supports should meet the needs of at least 80% of students in your classroom.

Tier 2: Offer targeted intervention to groups of students who need added support after effective tier 1 instruction and supports. Students receiving tier 2 supports may not qualify for special education. 5-15% of students typically need tier 2 interventions.

Tier 3: Provide intensive individualized support to students who need additional intensive intervention after effective tier 1 and tier 2 supports. These students typically have an educational eligibility for special education. Students needing tier 3 interventions in addition to tier 1 and tier 2 supports make up approximately 1-5% of your students.

Knowing your students is at the heart of effective teaching—AI can help personalize instruction, streamline planning, and generate ideas, but it must be guided by the teacher’s understanding of each learner’s strengths and challenges.

AI can be helpful in many ways, but it is important to follow the 80/20 rule. It is okay to allow AI to help with the initial 80%; however, you must complete at least 20% to tailor your planning to the needs of your student(s) while using evidence-based practices.