6 Components of RtI - Family & Community Engagement
Why: When families, schools, and communities work together, children are more successful in school and schools improve.
Family and Community Engagement Across the Tiers:
Effective partnerships include parents, families, students,
community members and educators. Indicators of an effective
partnership include 1) sharing information, 2) problem-solving, and
3) celebrating student successes. Central to effective partnership
is the recognition of shared responsibility and shared ownership of
student challenges and successes.
In forming partnerships, it is important to nurture the
collaborative process. To develop true collaboration, parents and
families must be fundamentally involved in the entire educational
experience. Parents should be recognized as having important
information and expertise that they can contribute to the
partnership. It is important for school personnel to provide the
parents with information and empower them as equal partners in
supporting their children’s learning. At Tier I, parent involvement
in school decision making leads to an improved positive school
climate. Parents and families are seen as key partners in all
aspects of RtI, but their role may shift at each tier of
intervention. In particular, at the targeted (Tier II) and intensive
(Tier III) levels their expertise regarding the individual student
is vital. At these tiers, members of the student’s family may
provide information about the student and strategies that will lead
to improved student outcomes.
Collaboration is more than simply working together and more than just linkage; it is agreeing to formally work together to achieve mutually desired outcomes. If one is to believe the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” then the community has a vested interest in supporting a positive school climate, which research has shown leads to better academic results. It is critical that schools recognize that cultural understanding requires more than just awareness. Understanding and respect for cultural differences is vital when attempting to engage families and foster community support.
Additional Tools & Resources
Brochure:
- Colorado RtI Brochure (PDF)
Toolkit:
Articles:
- The ABCs of RtI: A Guide for Parents
- Response to Intervention: A Primer for Parents
- A Parent Leader's Perspective on Response to Intervention
Websites:
- National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
- National Research Center on Children with Learning Disabilities