Universal screening in RTI is used to identify which students?

• A. To identify students who may need additional support
• B. To measure final grades
• C. To evaluate teacher performance
• D. To determine eligibility for special education

Answer: (A)

Universal screening in RTI is about flagging students who may need extra support. It involves giving a brief, quick assessment to all students to identify those who show signs of risk in areas like reading, math, or behavior. The goal is to catch difficulties early so educators can provide targeted interventions (Tier 2 or Tier 3) and start progress monitoring to see how well those supports work. This helps place students into appropriate levels of help before problems compound. It isn’t used to measure final grades, evaluate teacher performance, or determine eligibility for special education by itself; eligibility decisions come from a broader, comprehensive evaluation, though screening data can inform those decisions.