Scientific Research-Based Interventions
What is Scientific Research-Based Interventions (SRBI)?
Scientific Research-Based Interventions (SRBI) is CT's framework for Response-to-Intervention (RtI).
CT chose Scientific Research-Based Interventions (SRBI) to emphasize the role of general education.
The dual focus is on providing instruction and intervention in general education at the onset of a
concern regarding academic and behavioral performance and on high quality instruction for all students
through the use of research-based, effective instructional strategies.
In a SRBI model, students are assessed using common assessments their academic and social progress is
monitored and those experiencing difficulty are identified and supported as soon as the need is identified.
The curriculum is built on high-quality research-based instructional strategies and instruction is
differentiated for all learners. Data is collected and reviewed often. It is used to drive both
instructional decisions at the student level and to improve general education practices.
Glossary of Response to Intervention Terms
Baseline: the student's current level of performance in his or her focus area for
improvement prior to implementation of an intervention
Benchmark: important student outcomes or goals for a grade within a particular
domain (e.g., reading), that students should be achieving during the course of a school year
(e.g., fall, winter, spring) in order to be on target for end-of-grade performance by the end
of that school year
Curriculum Based Measures (CBMs): measures for ongoing monitoring of students'
progress through a curriculum; CBMs may be locally developed, but generic CBMs are also available
for free download or purchase (e.g., DIBELs or AIMSweb)
Data Teams: teams of educators that are responsible for data analysis and decision
making and that function at the level of the district, school, and grade (or content area) as well as
across grade levels in the same content area (i.e., vertical teams); they include as members school
administrators, school psychologists, grade/content area general educators, various specialists and
other behavioral/mental health personnel
Differentiated Instruction: an approach to teaching that emphasizes ways to meet the
differing needs of a group of students within the general education setting, for example, through the
use of flexible small groups, varied instructional materials, or different ways of presenting the same
content; differentiation of instruction is an integral part of Tier I
Flexible Grouping: grouping of students that is changeable based on the purpose of the
instructional activity and on changes in the instructional needs of individual students over time
Homogeneous Grouping: grouping of students with similar instructional needs who are at
similar levels, such as students who all require instruction in basic spelling skills
Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS):
a multicomponent approach to respectfully changing behavior while enhancing capabilities, opportunities,
and quality of life
Progress Monitoring: using data to track students' progress toward a goal
SRBI (Scientific Research-Based Interventions): a term used in CT to describe instructional
practices and interventions in a school or district that have been researched and determined to be effective
for improved student outcomes or proven to excel student learning as evidenced by data
Tier I: the general education core curriculums, instruction and social/behavioral supports
for all students, with differentiation of instruction as a norm
Tier II: short-term interventions for students who have not responded adequately to the
general education core curriculums and differentiation of instruction; it is part of the general education
system
Tier III: more intensive or individualized short-term interventions for students who fail
to respond adequately to Tier I and/or Tier II interventions; it is also part of the general education system
Universal Common Assessments: a term for assessments that are given routinely to all
students in a grade and that are the same for all students in a grade within a school or district; universal
common assessments may be summative or formative and include, but are not limited to, benchmark assessments
Click to download a PDF of
Glossary of Response to Intervention Terms
Helpful Resources
- Using Scientific Research-Based Interventions Improving Education for All Students: Connecticut's Framework for RTI
- A Family Guide: Connecticut's Framework for RTI
- Response to Intervention: A Primer for Parents
- Response to Intervention: Ten Questions Parents Should Ask
- Guidelines for Identifying Children with Learning Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions
- SRBI and the Role of Paraprofessionals
- Positive Behavior Supports