What educational practice supports equity in referrals for special education evaluations?

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered approach that supports equity in referrals for special education evaluations by focusing on providing high-quality instruction and interventions tailored to students' needs before making a referral for special services. RTI emphasizes early identification and support for struggling students, ensuring that they receive systematic interventions that address their individual challenges.

This framework not only helps in identifying students who genuinely require special education services but also minimizes unnecessary referrals by addressing concerns through proactive measures. By implementing a range of interventions, educators can gather data on student progress, making informed decisions regarding the need for special education evaluation based on their response to these interventions.

This approach helps ensure that students from diverse backgrounds, including those who might traditionally be over- or under-referred for special education, receive equitable access to support. In contrast, whole class instruction, standardized testing, and behavioral modifications do not specifically target the referral process for special education evaluations in the same comprehensive, data-informed manner.