District-level considerations in supporting and sustaining RtI implementation

Although Response to Intervention (RtI) implementation efforts have been occurring in schools across the country for more than a decade, questions and concerns are emerging, as some schools are not observing significantly improved student achievement or behavior outcomes as expected. In the literature on RtI implementation, most authors indicate there are multiple levels of support that are required for effective RtI implementation. These include individual professional development regarding the rationale for RtI and for developing necessary skills; building‐level support encompassing necessary resources, leadership, and structures that promote RtI; and district‐level support to drive the broader system. In this article, we identify district‐level supports that are important for school psychologists to consider as they work to initiate or extend RtI routines. The district‐level factors discussed here are organized into the categories of leadership, assessment and data management, culture and beliefs, professional development, staff recruitment, and resource allocation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.