Within a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), intensive intervention, also known as Tier 3, is designed to support students with the most severe and persistent learning and/or behavior difficulties. This document highlights some common misconceptions about intensive academic and behavior interventions that experts from the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and NCII have observed in supporting the implementation of intensive intervention within the context of MTSS.

At-home learning requires increased independence for students. With no bells signaling the beginning or end of class and no teacher leading the class for each subject, students must follow a virtual schedule. Within these schedules, students are responsible for accessing the appropriate links to class sessions and work activities. In addition, students often must populate usernames and passwords—most of which are unique for each different site or task.

This rubric uses descriptors of the dimensions of the Taxonomy of Intervention Intensity to support teams in selecting and evaluating validated interventions for small groups or individual students. Teams may consider using data available on the National Center on Intensive Intervention Academic Tools Chart and the publishers’ websites as well as results from previous implementation efforts. Each dimension will be rated on a scale of 0– Fails to Address Standard to 3 – Addresses Standard Well. Taxonomy of Intervention Intensity: Academic Rating Rubric   Related Resources Taxonomy of Intervention Intensity Resources

Successful implementation of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and, specifically, intensive intervention through the data-based individualization (DBI) process, demands the collection and analysis of data. As teams consider data collection, challenges may occur with assessment administration, scoring, and data entry (Taylor, 2009). This resource reviews three data collection and entry challenges and strategies to ensure data about risk status and responsiveness accurately represent student performance and minimize measurement errors.

This series includes video examples and tip sheets to help educators and families in using the NCII reading and mathematics sample lessons to support students with intensive needs. These lessons provide short instructional routines to encourage multiple practice opportunities using explicit instruction principles. The videos and tip sheets describe how educators can use the sample lessons to support instruction in a virtual setting, how educators can share these lessons with parents, and how parents can also implement the lessons to provide additional practice opportunities.  

These videos and tips are part of a series of products to support students with intensive needs in the face of COVID-19. These videos illustrate how parents and grandparents can implement the NCII reading and mathematics sample lessons to provide additional practice. In addition to the video examples, a tip sheet is available to help parents implement the lessons. Implementation of Reading Lesson: Parent Example  

This video and tips are part of a series of products to support students with intensive needs in the face of COVID-19. The series illustrates how educators can implement the NCII reading and mathematics sample lessons through virtual learning and provide tips for there use. These lessons provide short instructional routines to encourage multiple practice opportunities using explicit instruction principles. Tips for how educators can share these lessons with parents and families and video examples of family members implementing the lessons to enhance practice opportunities are also available.

    If we don’t implement critical components of an intervention with consistency, we cannot link student outcomes to the instruction provided. Fidelity can help us to determine the effectiveness of an intervention, and identify if a student requires more intensive supports. This resource outlines five elements of fidelity and provides guiding questions for each.          

Data-based individualization (DBI) is a research-based process for individualizing and intensifying interventions through the systematic use of assessment data, validated interventions, and research-based adaptation strategies. The DBI process includes five iterative steps:

This series of infographics, developed in collaboration with the Rhode Island Parent Information Network, are intended to provide a high-level overview of intensive intervention, questions parents and families might want to ask school teams to learn more, and tips for parents in supporting their child who is receiving intensive intervention. These resources should not replace ongoing communication between schools, and parents and families.