At Risk Students within a RtI/MTSS framework:
Not all student struggles are created equally! Some students’ struggles with learning persist throughout their entire school career, while other students struggle with only certain skills and concepts along the way. Regardless of the struggle, the purpose of the RtI/MTSS initiative is to meet the learning needs of every student. In other words, RtI/MTSS ensures that students’ learning needs are identified and that research-based interventions are put in place by educators to help “close the gap”.
Regardless of when a student begins to struggle, it is important that the struggle is identified and addressed as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for a student to be meeting grade level benchmarks early in the school year, and then begin to struggle. When this happens, it is imperative that teachers become proactive, not waiting for the student to fall further behinds. Students can and should be placed in the RtI/MTSS process regardless of when their struggles first surface. It is also important to remember that as students who have been served through the RtI/MTSS process begin to consistently meet grade level expectations that they begin to transition out of the RtI/MTSS process.
Regardless of when a student begins to struggle, it is important that the struggle is identified and addressed as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for a student to be meeting grade level benchmarks early in the school year, and then begin to struggle. When this happens, it is imperative that teachers become proactive, not waiting for the student to fall further behinds. Students can and should be placed in the RtI/MTSS process regardless of when their struggles first surface. It is also important to remember that as students who have been served through the RtI/MTSS process begin to consistently meet grade level expectations that they begin to transition out of the RtI/MTSS process.