How is RTI used to identify learning disabilities?

• A. Through ability tests only.
• B. Through screening, progress monitoring, and data-based decision making to determine nonresponse to high-quality instruction.
• C. By relying solely on a teacher's judgment of a student’s struggles.
• D. By end-of-year comprehensive exams only.

Answer: (B)

RTI uses a proactive, data-driven process to identify learning disabilities. It starts with universal screening to find students at risk, then provides high-quality, evidence-based instruction across different levels of intensity (tiers). Students’ progress is measured frequently, so teachers can see how they respond to the instruction over time. The key is making decisions based on data from multiple sources and points in time to determine if a student is not making adequate progress despite quality instruction. If nonresponse is demonstrated through this data, a referral for a formal evaluation for a disability is considered.

This approach is not about a single ability test, a teacher’s judgment alone, or end-of-year exams. Those methods don’t capture how a student responds to instruction over time, which is central to RTI.