What does the three-tier system in response to intervention focus on?

The three-tier system in response to intervention (RTI) is designed to provide a framework for addressing the diverse needs of all students through a structured approach to support and monitoring. At its core, this system emphasizes progress monitoring and tailored support, which allows educators to identify students who may be struggling and to provide appropriate interventions based on their individual needs.

In this model, the first tier typically involves high-quality instruction in the general education classroom, where all students receive support. As needs are identified, the second tier provides targeted interventions for students who require additional assistance beyond general instruction. Finally, the third tier consists of more intensive, individualized interventions for those students who continue to struggle despite the support they have received in the earlier tiers. This approach allows for ongoing assessment of student progress, ensuring that interventions are adjusted as necessary to meet each student's evolving needs.

By focusing on progress monitoring and customized support, the three-tier system promotes an inclusive educational environment that aims to provide all students, regardless of their starting point, with the resources they need to succeed. This system stands in contrast to other approaches that may limit support to just specific groups, rely solely on standardized assessments, or provide intense interventions without proper monitoring of progress.