ABSTRACT
Rigor has been an area of increasing focus in education. This chapter looks at why rigor is important, misconceptions related to rigor, a clear definition of rigor, and how rigor is incorporated in tiers 1, 2, and 3. Despite all the efforts to increase rigor in schools, there are seven commonly held misconceptions. The misconceptions include: lots of homework is a sign of rigor; rigor means doing more; rigor is not for everyone; providing support means lessening rigor; resources equal rigor; standards alone take care of rigor; and rigor is just one more thing to do. True rigor is the result of weaving together all elements of schooling to raise students to higher levels of learning. The first component of rigor is creating an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels. Having high expectations starts with the recognition that every student possesses the potential to succeed at his or her individual level.
