Welcome
The Nebraska Department of Education, via the Nebraska Response-to-Intervention (RtI) Consortium, is preparing schools to deliver RtI services by means of a state-wide implementation plan, training, evaluation and dissemination of results, and oversight of a quality implementation process. This website provides materials, information, and guidelines to support RtI implementation in the state of Nebraska.
Use of Response to Intervention (RtI) Data for
SLD Verification Decisions in Nebraska
Response to Intervention is both (a) a useful framework for guiding instruction for all students (in general and special education) by means of a continuum of services, and (b) a legal and valid approach for identifying students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). The 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) provides the legal basis for using RtI to determine learning disability eligibility. The law states:
In determining whether a child has a specific learning disability, a local educational agency may use a process that determines if the child responds to scientific research-based intervention as part of the evaluation procedures described in paragraphs (2) and (3) [20 U.S.C. 1414(b)(6)(B)].
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) is committed to ensuring an equitable process for SLD verification across the state. Therefore school districts will be required to include within the Nebraska Policies and Procedures for Special Education document evidence ensuring an effective system for RtI is in place before RtI may be used to verify students for special education. Specific guidelines for what constitutes an effective system for RtI are provided in collaboration with the Nebraska RtI Consortium. The Nebraska Essential Elements for Effective RTI Implementation are: School-wide buy-in and Implementation Plan, Integration of Services, Implementation Infrastructure, Team Leadership, Parent Involvement, Scientifically or research-based Core Instruction, Universal Screening and Assessment, Individual Student Progress Monitoring, Planned Service Delivery Decision Rules, Continuum of Intervention Supports, Fidelity of Instruction, and SLD Verification Procedures.
Schools may submit evidence to the RtI Consortium for review through the Consortium website. Protocol for submissions will be available soon. Please check back for further details.