MTSS Fidelity Data Matters

Don’t skip this step: MTSS Fidelity Data Matters

Earlier this month in our online MTSS community we discussed MTSS fidelity tools and while some of our community members reported that their schools collected fidelity data there were many others that said their school had never collected MTSS fidelity data. Inspired by our discussion I typed up some of my thinking behind the “why” we should collect these types of data in addition to student outcome data.

The truth is the I get it - as the school year comes to a close, it’s natural for everyone—educators, administrators, and students alike—to start shifting into survival mode. The finish line is in sight, and it’s tempting to shelve anything that feels like “extra” work. But there’s one crucial step you don’t want to skip before wrapping up the year: collecting MTSS fidelity data.

While student outcome data often takes center stage, fidelity data plays a different, equally important role. It helps your MTSS implementation team understand how well the systems and practices were put in place, which is essential for improving and sustaining a strong MTSS framework over time.

Fidelity Data: A Snapshot of Practice

Fidelity data helps answer questions like, “Did we do what we said we were going to do?”, “How is our student data reflective of our MTSS efforts?”, “Are we providing our staff with the proper professional learning based on our implementation phase”, and “Are there implementation successes that we want to celebrate as a community?” It provides a snapshot of whether core components of MTSS—such as universal screening, data-based decision making, Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions, and team processes—were implemented as intended.

Without fidelity data, you might misinterpret your student outcome data. For example, if progress monitoring data shows that Tier 2 students didn’t grow as much as expected, but your fidelity data reveals that the intervention wasn’t delivered consistently, then the problem might not be the intervention itself—but its implementation.

Why Now? The Power of End-of-Year Reflection

Collecting fidelity data at the end of the year gives your MTSS leadership implementation team a powerful opportunity to reflect before heading into summer. It allows your team to:

  • Celebrate wins. If your school made improvements in consistent team meetings, timely progress monitoring, or clear Tier 2 entry/exit criteria—those are implementation milestones worth celebrating.

  • Spot gaps. Fidelity data can reveal weak spots in your system that may not be obvious in student data alone. For example, perhaps your universal screening was implemented with high fidelity in the fall but inconsistent in the spring.

  • Plan with purpose. Armed with data, your team can make informed decisions about professional development, resource allocation, and process improvement for next year.

What Fidelity Tools Can We Use?

There’s no need to overcomplicate this process. Some schools use formal fidelity rubrics like the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) or District Capacity Assessment (DCA). Others develop quick, focused checklists aligned to their MTSS implementation plan. The key is to choose tools that are:

  • Simple and relevant to your current stage of MTSS implementation

  • Easy to interpret so that leadership teams can actually use the results

  • Repeatable over time to track progress

  • Research-based which should include technical adequacy such as validity and reliability

Don’t Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Done

Even if you can’t collect a full set of fidelity data before summer, gathering something—even an informal team self-assessment—can go a long way. The goal is continuous improvement, not perfection.

So before your MTSS team heads out for a well-earned break, take one final meeting to reflect on how you implemented this year. Your future self (and your staff next fall) will thank you. If you’re not sure and you’re looking for some guidance on which fidelity tool is right for your setting consider joining our online community - the MTSS Implementation Network. Doors open July 1st.

Erin Chaparro