Response to Intervention (RtI) on the Preschool level is developing into an emerging practice called Recognition and Response. (For a quick snapshot of Recognition & Response, click here.) Although Recognition and Response is anchored by the principles of RtI, there are some fundamental differences inherent in working with very young children. Some of these differences include an emphasis on collaborating with parents and specialists, planning smooth transitions to kindergarten, and limited reliance on formal diagnosis and labeling.

This emerging field is generating an explosion of resources and research materials. Some of the most valuable are highlighted below:

Webinar - Implementing Response to Intervention in Early Childhood Settings: National, State, and Program Perspectives. This 80-minute webcast features a stimulating conversation with key experts on the role RtI can play in child development through high quality instruction and targeted interventions matches to children's learning needs.

Report - Roadmap to Pre-K RtI: Applying Response to Intervention in Preschool Settings. This report provides early childhood experts, policy makers, advocates and educators an explanation of how the essential components of RtI - universal screening, progress-monitoring with research-based, tiered interventions - can be applied in preschool settings.

Webinar - Roadmap to Pre-K RtI: Applying RtI to Preschool Settings and Handout. In this webinar, Drs. Coleman and Roth explore the Roadmap report, to help early childhood experts, policy makers, advocates and educators gain a basic understanding of the essential components of RtI and begin to develop and plan their own RtI implementation plan.

Recognition and Response. Visit the Recognition and Response (R&R) website to learn about a model based on the principles of RtI, but adapted for younger children in Pre-K settings. The site provides educators wiht information and resources to help early educators address the needs of young children (3-5 year-olds) who show signs that they may not be learning in an expected manner, even before they begin kindergarten.

Center for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood (CRTIEC). CRTIEC is a consortium of professionals committed to advancing early intervening services based on RtI and evidence-based practices in Early Childhood Education. Their mission is to conduct research and provide resources that support the application of RtI in Early Childhood Education. Their website houses resources, publications and presentations as well as implementation models, interventions for Tiers 2 and 3 and a research agenda.

Response to Intervention in Early Childhood-Presentation by the RtI Action Network. This presentation addressed the essential components, benefits, and challenges unique to implementing RtI in early childhood programs, with consideration of both policy and practice.