In the context of implementation of MTSS, fidelity is the extent to which school personnel are applying the core feathers of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Measuring fidelity of MTSS implementation allows for schools to:

• Determine where they are in the implementation process
• Make goals related to implementation and reliably track their progress

OVERVIEW

The OTISS Fidelity Assessment measures a site's level of OTISS implementation across eight components:

1. Leadership: an active leader who sets the climate for the school and is responsible for allocating staff, time for professional development, and resources as needed
2. Teaming: a team composed of a variety of school personnel that meets regularly
3. Universal Screening: using an evidence-based screening tool at least 3x per year to identify students at-risk of academic or behavioral difficulties
4. Professional Development: a definitive plan for professional development guided by data
5. Tiered Interventions: evidence-based interventions provided at different levels based on the student’s needs and intensified or reduced based on the student’s response
6. Progress Monitoring: assessing a student’s progress in the areas universal screening identified as being at-risk for failure; measures student’s response to the intervention over time
7. Data Based Decision-Making: educational decisions are made based upon intervention data and information using rules decided upon by the team prior to beginning the process
8. Family Engagement: the school reaches out to the families of their students in an attempt to meaningfully include them in supporting student learning

TOOLS

• OTISS Fidelity Assessment
• OTISS Fidelity Assessment Graphing Tool

OVERVIEW

The Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) was created in order to provide a valid, reliable, and efficient measure of the extent to which school personnel are applying the core features of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports. It measures fidelity across all three tiers in the areas of teaming, implementation, and evaluation.

1. Teams: Measures composition of team that is representative of the staff and contains the expertise needed to facilitate the process. Additionally, measures the general operating procedures of the team.
2. Implementation: Implementation measures the degree which the various components of the Tier I positive behavioral components are in place.
3. Evaluation: Evaluation measures the extent to which the school is using data (discipline, fidelity and annual evaluation) to make decisions regarding the implementation of the Tier behavior system.

TOOLS

• TFI Assessment
• TFI Graphing Tool