Rightsize. Right Support. Right for Students.
Portland Public Schools is undertaking a districtwide rightsizing process to better align our schools, programs, and resources with the needs of today’s students and the realities shaping our future.
Find answers to common questions about when to involve the Rapid Response Team, other Tier III resources available to school teams, Special Education considerations, and the types of support RRT can provide.
School teams can access identified Tier III resources and should regularly assess and strengthen Tier I and Tier II MTSS systems with assistance from MTSS and FIT TOSA support.
Schools may also want to consult with their school social workers, QMHPs, school counselors, school psychologists, RESJ staff, and other community partners who often know how to access timely mental health, culturally responsive, and behavioral support for individual students.
Please call 988 for mental health crisis support.
911 should be utilized when there is a life-threatening emergency involving serious bodily injury.
For a disciplinary issue or question, consider consulting with the PPS Student Conduct Coordinator.
Other resources may include:
Special Education will take the lead when a student who has already been identified for Special Education services is exhibiting behaviors that may need Tier III intervention. Educational decisions for students receiving Special Education services should not be made outside of an IEP team, and RRT is not part of the IEP team.
The guidance is for building Special Education staff to contact their TOSA and then together make a decision about notifying the Program Administrator (PA). From there, the PA will determine if and when a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) should be assigned to the case.
BCBAs within the Special Education Department are identified to take the lead for Tier III support for students receiving Special Education services, while RRT takes the lead for referred general education students.
Special Education may request consultation with RRT. In those situations, RRT can provide support and consultation as a thought partner while Special Education continues to lead the process.
RRT should not be considered as a resource for minor, repeated behaviors such as work refusal, yelling, tantrums, or eloping to a predictable or safe location in a school, such as the counselor's office or gym.
RRT should be considered only after Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III level interventions are in place and the school team has data demonstrating that the behavior continues.
If you are not sure whether an RRT referral is appropriate, please contact RRT for consultation.
The Rapid Response Team referral and process is unable to provide 1:1 supervision for a student as part of their school day.
For questions about RRT, consultation, or whether a referral may be appropriate, contact the Rapid Response Team at rrt@pps.net.
