It can be difficult for students to catch up once they've fallen behind in math. Early struggles in math can lead to greater challenges as the topics and concepts become more complex.

Response to Intervention (RtI) is a formal system of detection, prevention, and support designed to help struggling elementary and middle school students before they fall behind. RtI begins with high-quality classroom instruction and provides targeted, intensive interventions to students who struggle with specific skills or concepts.

In order to be effective, RtI in math requires universal screening and monitoring of all students to identify potential difficulties and track progress, a focus on building students' understanding of arithmetic foundations through interventions, and intentional teaching that encourages and motivates students. The training and support for proper engagement of these strategies needs to come from a systemwide RtI Implementation framework.

To learn more about the research underlying these practices, view the IES Practice Guide, Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention (RtI) for Elementary and Middle Schools.