Legislation to establish a Response to Intervention initiative (RTI) within the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has been signed by Governor Christie. The bipartisan measure (S-496 and A-2566) was co-sponsored by a long list of education leaders and advocates from both the Assembly and the Senate.
RTI is a widely used methodology to identify struggling learners, maximize student achievement, and reduce behavior problems.
The initiative includes the dissemination of information and guidance regarding: the development and effective implementation of an RTI framework as a methodology for identifying struggling learners, maximizing student achievement, and reducing behavioral problems; and the use of an RTI framework for identifying students with specific learning disabilities. The commissioner is now required to provide technical assistance and training to school districts, and ensure that when an RTI framework is implemented by a school district, it includes certain elements.
The bill is consistent with IDEA, which expressly allows school districts to utilize RTI to identify students with specific learning disabilities.
The bill has been reviewed by the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) and found to have no increase on state or local expenditures.
.