Fidelity: Maximizing the Effectiveness of Tier 2 September 24, 2013 Facilitated/Presented by: The Illinois RtI Network is a State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) project of the Illinois State Board of Education. All funding (100%) is from federal sources. The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H325A However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (OSEP Project Officer: Grace Zamora Durán) I-RtI Network Lori Hensold Ruth Poage-Gaines Sherry Geier

FIDELITY AT TIER 2 I-RtI Network

Outcomes Participants will: Learner will identify tools/processes used to measure fidelity in their current school or district. Learner will gain knowledge of the four components of fidelity and how each relates to MTSS components. Learner will review sample fidelity tools and analyze components needed in individual districts/buildings.

What Do You Think ?

Because implementation integrity is critical to RTI (Gansle & Noell, 2007), the first years of an RTI initiative are an opportunity to develop manageable implementation plans that can be embraced and executed with integrity based on the capacity of the staff and needs of the students. It is important to first implement any evidence-based practice with fidelity before making alterations (Fixsen, et al., 2005). The Dissemination Working Group (1999) contends that striving for fidelity of program and organization is essential so that if changes or innovations occur in the future we can be sure that they are necessary and not an effort to avoid accountability for the current practice being implemented (p.17). Thus, “changes in skill levels, organizational capacity, organizational culture, and so on require education, practice, and time to mature” (Fixsen et al., 2005, p. 16). As knowledge, practice, and expertise are developed, levels of sophistication are added that ultimately result in a seamless model of instruction and intervention. Kucic and Allain (2008)

Ensuring Fidelity

Collaborative Instructional Planning What do we want our students to learn? How will we know they have learned it? How will we respond when some students don’t learn? How will we respond when some students have clearly achieved the intended outcomes? PLC Questions Continuous Improvement Cycle Problem Solving Process Problem Identification Problem Analysis Plan Development Plan Evaluation

Planning for Fidelity Ensuring things go as planned…

Fidelity SASED, 2013

Curriculum How do you identify the curricular area in which a student needs more instruction? Does the need for intervention reflect a gap in your curriculum? How does your Tier 2 support line up with your Tier 1 support?

Instruction What is the research or evidence base behind the intervention strategy being used? Was ample PD and training provided before implementing the intervention? Who is making sure the intervention is taught/implemented according to directions? Student attendance

Assessment Does it measure student growth in the targeted area? Is it reliable and valid? Is data easily accessible and presented in an easily understood format? Are the tests administered accurately?

Process Is there ample time in the schedule for intervention and progress monitoring? What data will be used to make decisions? Are meetings regularly scheduled? How are decisions made? How do we assess if the intervention is effective?

How do you measure it? Name one type of tool that could be used to measure fidelity of : – Curriculum – Instruction – Assessment – Process at Tier 2

Teacher log Teacher report Rating scale Direct observation Walk-through Permanent product Teacher evaluation instrument (Danielson or other) Tools to Measure

McLean CUD #5 Jennifer Gill Director of Teaching and Learning Ideas from an Implementing District

District 200 Woodstock Courtney Havens RtI Coordinator

How are you feeling about Fidelity? I have a better understanding of fidelity than when I got here. I have about the same understanding of fidelity as when I got here. I am more confused now than I was when I got here. Questions/Comments

Reflection How has your definition of fidelity changed? On what aspects of the Tier 2 RtI process do we need to monitor fidelity? Where are the strengths and weaknesses in your school or district? At which levels within a school district do we need to monitor fidelity? District? Building? Classroom? Student?

Review Learner Outcomes : Learner will identify tools/processes used to measure fidelity in their current school or district. Learner will gain knowledge of the four components of fidelity and how it relates to MTSS components. Learner will review sample fidelity tools and analyze components needed in their districts/buildings. One of the best ways to remember something is to test yourself.

Evaluation

Action Planning DISCUSS & SHARE Successes Barriers Additional supports &/or resources needed Next step(s) DISCUSS & SHARE Successes Barriers Additional supports &/or resources needed Next step(s)

Key Ideas for Fidelity in Tier 2 1.Implementation integrity is critical to RtI. 2.Choose the right tool to measure integrity. 3.Determine fidelity of: 1.Curriculum 2.Instruction 3.Assessment 4.Process