Funding and Legislation

In 2007, Washington state received the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG), a federal special education grant which focuses on professional development and RTI implementation. The goal of RTI is to shift the current paradigm in both general and special education from a “wait to fail” approach to meeting the needs of all students with additional instructional support as soon as it is necessary.

The SPDG provides intense professional development to reform and advance educational and behavioral service systems to improve results for all children through the use of RTI. Currently there are several efforts underway to make training on RTI available to all schools in order to scale-up RTI statewide.

Key activities include:

• Providing comprehensive professional development to enhance school district personnel in using RTI which will include:
  • Access to training modules online
  • Training at OSPI winter and summer institutes
  • Follow-up technical assistance and coaching
• Supporting identified demonstration sites to serve as “lighthouses” for surrounding districts
• Building on other state initiatives aimed at closing the achievement gap such as Reading First, Title I, etc.

House Bill 2136: Improving Core Subject Instruction for All Students

In May 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law House Bill 2136 – Improving Core Subject Instruction for All Students. This bill authorizes school districts to apply for funding based on its ability to reduce the numbers of students eligible for special education and related services. This project was previously named Special Services Pilot Project under House Bill 2012. During the 2007 legislative session, this bill was renamed and expanded to include additional school districts.

The purpose of the program is to continue to support the existing Special Services Pilot Districts and to encourage other school districts to participate. The primary goal will be to improve the implementation of high quality, general education research-based instructional programs in order to meet the needs of students struggling academically, while reducing the number of students inappropriately referred and placed in special education.