News

New funding extends National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention for another 5 years
November 6, 2019

A $6.4 million, 5-year grant will support the training of a new cohort of 28 doctoral students as part of the National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention (NCLII).

MCPER Executive Director Sharon Vaughn and Principal Investigator Sarah Powell will serve on the Leadership Committee as representatives of The University of Texas at Austin, one of seven partner universities. The other universities taking part are Vanderbilt University, University of Connecticut, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Minnesota, University of Georgia, and Michigan State University.

The goal of the project is to "produce a cohort of scholars capable of preparing generations of special education personnel to meet the needs of students with comorbid and complex learning and behavior difficulties and to conduct the highest level of research on this topic," according to an NCLII announcement. Also, the project will "host summer workshops to provide additional, focused training in key topics related to leadership development in intensive intervention. The consortium also provides interested scholars with connections to internships with national centers supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs."

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute  National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention 

MCPER launches initiative to improve academic, behavioral interventions for Texas students
July 30, 2019

MCPER has received a $2 million, 1-year grant from the Texas Education Agency to develop and disseminate information about best practices related to academic and behavioral interventions.

Tiered Interventions Using Evidence-Based Research (TIER) will develop a set of modules related to multitiered systems of support in academics and behavior to improve the outcomes of students with or at risk for disability. The project also will create on-demand versions of each module so educators across Texas can access the materials independently at their convenience.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Texas Education Agency and educators across Texas to ensure that all schools have support systems in place to improve the outcomes of students with disabilities," said Sarah Powell, TIER principal investigator. "We are embarking on an ambitious project with materials that could be utilized by every educator in Texas."

For more information, visit the TIER project webpage.

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute  Tiered Interventions Using Evidence-Based Research (TIER) 

MCPER alum Christopher Lemons wins Presidential Early Career Award
February 19, 2016

Christopher Lemons, a former MCPER staff researcher and current MCPER collaborator, has received the U.S. government’s highest honor for science and engineering researchers in the early stages of their careers.

President Obama selected Lemons among 105 recipients nationwide of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. President Clinton established the award in 1996 to recognize “innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology and ... commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach,” according to a White House press release.

Lemons, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University, is a principal investigator of the National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention, a consortium that prepares special education leaders to become experts in research on intensive intervention for students with disabilities who have persistent and severe academic and/or behavioral difficulties. MCPER faculty members and scholars are part of the consortium through The University of Texas Austin, one of seven partner institutions. Lemons previously worked on multiple MCPER projects.

For more information on the prestigious award, see the White House press release.

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute  National Center for Leadership in Intensive Intervention 

New module explains how schools can use free app to monitor their response to intervention implementation
May 20, 2015

The Building Response to Intervention Capacity for Texas Schools project has released a new a "how-to" module for its Campus Response to Intervention Progress Monitoring Tool (RTI-PMT), a free app for electronic tablets and computers.

The RTI-PMT provides real-time data on how an elementary campus’ RTI model is working during an academic year. It promotes collaboration among grade-level teams in identifying entry and exit criteria for each intervention setting (or tier) and proactive decision-making related to resources and professional development support. The tool is simple to use: After each screening assessment, educators enter the names of their at-risk students and assign an intervention setting. The app organizes and displays data at the teacher, grade, and campus levels in pie charts or bar charts. When data are updated at the beginning, middle, and end of year, the displays show progress in meeting students’ needs, as students move to less intensive settings or exit intervention. The tool also can be used to share campus success with stakeholders.

For more information and to access both the module and the app, visit the Building RTI Capacity website.

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute  Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project 

Three MCPER staff members to receive UT Staff Service Awards
April 10, 2014

Pamela Bell, director of MCPER's Response to Intervention Institute; Theresa Clarke of the CEEDAR External Evaluation; and Carlos Treviño of MCPER's Productions Team will each receive a UT Staff Service Award in recognition of their many years of excellent work at The University of Texas at Austin. Bell will be recognized for 15 years of service, and Clarke and Treviño will be recognized for 10 years of service. The Staff Service Awards Program "celebrates and recognizes the contributions of committed staff who are responsible for transforming lives for the benefit of society," according to the UT website. Both the centers and the university thank Bell, Clarke, and Treviño for their valuable contributions to our success.

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute 

Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project releases three new resources
August 18, 2012

The Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project recently added the following new resources:

• Finding Time: Building Schedules to Implement RTI (module)
• A Resource for Student Evaluation Personnel in Schools Implementing Response to Intervention (module)
• Using RTI Information to Develop IEPs for Students With Specific Learning Disabilities (presentation) 

These and other resources are also available in the MCPER Library and on the Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation external website.

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute  Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project 

Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project releases new podcasts
July 31, 2012

The Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project added four new podcasts to a series of conversations with MCPER Executive Director Dr. Sharon Vaughn. In these podcasts, Vaughn responds to frequently asked questions, including the following:

• What does effective intervention look like for secondary students with large gaps in achievement?
• What components of reading should an intervention session prioritize?
• How does implementation of response to intervention at the secondary level differ from response to intervention at the primary level?
• What are some suggestions for content area teachers who provide instruction to secondary students with large achievement gaps?
• What are some suggestions for universal screeners for secondary students? 

View these and other resources in the MCPER Library or on the Building Capacity for Response to Intervention external website.

Tags: Response to Intervention Institute  Building Capacity for Response to Intervention Implementation Project