PES looks at RTI program

PRINCETON — The success of the new Curriculum/Response to Intervention (RTI)  program within the Princeton Elementary District will take some time to measure.

At Monday’s meeting of the PES Board, Curriculum/RTI coordinator Connie Johnson gave an update on the new program, which was implemented this fall.

The curriculum review and planning portion of the program gives the district the needed bigger picture to help provide the best possible education for students, Johnson said. Working on curriculum has been her passion for years, and she’s pleased to have that opportunity within her own school district. Helping children reach their potential through education has been a goal of PES for years, she added.

In explaining the RTI program, Johnson said it is designed to detect things children may be missing in their education. Geared for preschool children through high school students, RTI is part of a federal IDEA special education law passed in 2004. The basic goal of the program is to help students stay on an academic track.

“The idea is to pick out early the kids who need extra help,” Johnson said. “The sooner we get to these kids, the more successful we will be as a school district, and the more successful these children will be throughout their school years.”

The focus of this year’s RTI program is literacy and reading skills. In the future, she expects the focus to include other subjects like math.

The setting for the RTI program is generally to have groups of one to three students, for about 15 minutes a day. The size of that group and the length and frequency of the group meeting will be adjusted according to the student.

To accommodate the RTI program, there has been a need to look at freeing up a teacher’s schedule as well as expanding the team working with the students. However, that expanded team will not include new employees but will utilize current staff in various positions, Johnson said.

As coordinator, Johnson will provide the needed training for teachers and staff on how to give and interpret the RTI tests and screenings. The tests will be given to students three times this year. Test results will be brought to the school board at the end of the year.

 The success of the RTI program must be determined in measurable means, Johnson said. However, a student’s progress and success will become more evident on a long-term basis, such as in five or 10 years.

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