Response to Intervention (RtI)

The Weehawken Public Schools believes in providing interventions to students who are not meeting the standards that the district believes are necessary for a successful completion of a high school diploma. Research has shown that approximately 80% of students are successful with the general education classroom approach and with the general education materials. Some students’ learning styles or processes require different strategies and different materials in addition to the materials used. Students are all different and have different learning styles and respond differently to materials. Some students learn by hearing, some by reading, some by doing, and some by watching. All of us learn differently and at different rates.

To provide the most effective education for ALL students, we believe we must provide an effective education for EACH student. In the Weehawken Public Schools, we utilize a three-tiered approach with varying levels of support beyond the general education, or core curriculum. In the first tier (Tier 1), the classroom teacher will use different strategies and may use additional or different materials so that your child’s progress is successful. In Tier 2, we employ a grade-level team approach where school staff meet to review your child’s progress and to tailor an individual academic support plan that provides supplemental instruction to your child in the area of need. The Tier 2 interventions are applied for a minimum of 6- 8 weeks. During this period, we give your child additional instruction using scientifically-based materials and strategies to allow your child to achieve the educational standards that are necessary for educational success in the District.

In the event that your child needs additional help to meet the standards, we will utilize a third tier (Tier 3), which provides additional and more frequent help. A problem-solving team meets to address your child’s needs and to review the progress of your child during the intervention period. We will keep you informed of your child’s progress with the interventions. At this tier, it may be necessary to alter your child’s schedule and make some choices regarding subjects and provision of courses so that educational interventions may occur. In other words, it may be necessary to excuse your child from music class in order to receive more reading instruction, as an example.

We believe that we have the responsibility to make ALL students successful and we do that one child at a time!