Getting Ready for Tier 2
Part 1: Is Your School Ready for Tier 2? (Why Readiness Matters)
Research conducted by some of my University of Oregon and Center on PBIS buddies has demonstrated that Tier 1 high implementation fidelity is a strong indicator of high Tier 2 and Tier 3 fidelity and sustained implementation (Kittleman et al., 2024). All too often school leadership MTSS implementation teams feel pressured to jump into full blown Tier 2 triage but their Tier 1 systems of instruction aren’t yet being implemented with fidelity. This strain of initiative overload makes it difficult to implement any system well. For this reason, it’s essential to reflect on Tier 2 readiness before building or expanding Tier 2 systems. If your team rushed to launch new interventions without ensuring your Tier 1 foundation is solid then you’ve probably witnessed first hand the predictable outcomes: scattered efforts, inconsistent follow-through, and little impact on student outcomes.
Research and experience tell us that Tier 2 success depends on a strong Tier 1 system. Just last week I was speaking to a colleague working with a district where they’ve identified over 60% of the students in need of Tier 2 social emotional behavioral (SEB) intervention supports. Understandably the Tier 2 team is overwhelmed and trying to serve the students in the most urgent need. They were asking me what to do when the team is in constant in-take mode and not able to administer interventions properly. I’m sure if you’re doing this work you’ve all heard something along the lines of “You can’t Tier 2 your way out of a Tier 1 issue”. If your core instruction and universal supports aren’t working well for most students, adding more interventions won’t solve the problem—it just adds more layers to manage and spreads thin already stressed out staff.
That’s where a Tier 2 Readiness Review comes in. It’s not a test or a scorecard; it’s a conversation starter. The goal is to bring your team together to look honestly at your systems and identify the factors that make Tier 2 effective, equitable, and just feasible to implement.
When teams take time to assess readiness, they often discover that they already have some Tier 2 components in place. Yay! Be sure to celebrate what’s already established and working well. I often hear teams talk about one team that does both Tier 1 and Tier 2 action planning and sometimes that can lead to the need for stronger coordination or clearer roles. Others realize that a few key Tier 1 improvements will make Tier 2 work far more effective and manageable in the long run. That’s really where a Tier 2 readiness checklist can be a great service.
In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore four areas of Tier 2 readiness:
Tier 1 Foundations
Teaming Systems
Data and Intervention Systems
Professional Learning, Coaching, and Leadership
Each area plays a critical role in making sure Tier 2 isn’t just a collection of interventions—but a coherent, well-supported system that helps students thrive. I’ve created a Tier 2 Readiness Checklist for the MTSS Implementation Network. Our next session is October 17th. You can still join by the month here.