Tier 2 Overview: Academic - Social Emotional - Behavioral
Given that 80% of students are likely to be successful with effective Tier 1 support, it is expected that some students will need additional and/or different support. Moving to Tier 2 marks the shift from prevention to early intervention.
Targeted Tier 2 interventions are supplemental and provided in addition to Tier 1. For example, a student who receives a Tier 2 reading intervention should never be pulled out of core reading instruction for that intervention. Targeted Tier 2 interventions must be matched to student needs and characteristics. For example, when a student is facing a challenge with their behavior, we may aim to address skill gaps that foster student self-awareness and coping skills, and enhance supportive relationships between students and others in the school community. Tier 2 support should be consistent and implemented according to a standard protocol for students with similar needs, allowing quick access as soon as a need is identified. Generally speaking, Tier 2 interventions can be delivered by any staff member trained to implement them with fidelity. This means the staff delivering the intervention should have time in their schedule to both deliver the targeted supports and analyze the data.
At Tier 2, data are used continuously to inform decisions about both students' responses to the intervention and the intervention's effectiveness. Before implementing the intervention, decision rules for entry into, matching within, and exit from the intervention are established. With regard to behavioral needs, data identifying the behavior function, setting conditions, and lagging skills guide the matching process. Graphed progress monitoring and fidelity data inform decisions about continuation or changes in support, answering questions such as: Have we implemented as intended? Are most students on track to meet their goals, or are most students not making progress? How is each student doing?
Implementation of Tier 2 is context-dependent and, therefore, differs somewhat across the grade span due to organizational and student differences. By effectively implementing Tiers 1 and 2, we reduce the number of students who need more intensive support, thereby conserving resources to meet the needs of all.
Learn More About Tier 2
If you're interested in improving your school's implementation of Tier 2, be sure to check out BRIDGE-RI's strand of courses devoted to this topic. Beginning with the Tier 2 Overview course, you'll learn more about the practices, data, and systems needed to support an effective Tier 2.