Are Your Interventions Working? 

After implementing MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports), it’s time to ask a critical question: Are your interventions actually working? 

I’ve seen firsthand how much progress schools can make when they treat MTSS as an ongoing conversation—not a one-time setup. A few well-chosen questions can surface real insight that changes the game for the upcoming school year. 

Step 1: Look at Student Outcomes—Broadly and Deeply 

Start by reviewing key student data across academic, behavioral, and attendance indicators. In my experience, digging deep into Tier 1 data often uncovers content gaps that affect the whole system. Even teams that feel confident about their interventions sometimes find that their core instruction needs more support than expected.  

Here are some questions to guide your review: 

• Did students receiving Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions make measurable progress? Look at pre- and post-intervention data, such as benchmark scores, grades, or behavior logs.

• Are fewer students being referred for Tier 3 or I&RS services than at the start of the year? This can signal that Tier 2 interventions are becoming more effective at closing gaps early.

• What’s happening with your Tier 1 core? If a large number of students are still being referred for intervention, it may indicate the need to strengthen Tier 1 instruction.

• Are any subgroups being disproportionately referred to or underserved? An equity lens is critical here—analyze data by race/ethnicity, language status, disability, and socioeconomic factors.

• Is chronic absenteeism or disciplinary action decreasing among students receiving support? Positive trends in SEL or behavior data are just as important as academic growth.

Step 2: Evaluate Intervention Fidelity 

I’ve worked with teams who felt discouraged by their data—only to realize that what looked like poor student outcomes was a fidelity issue. Without consistent delivery and monitoring, even the best strategies won’t show their true impact.  

Effectiveness isn’t just about student growth—it’s also about how consistently interventions were delivered. 

• Were intervention groups meeting as planned? 

• Were strategies delivered as designed, using evidence-based methods? 

• Were progress-monitoring tools used consistently and accurately? 

If the answer to any of these is “not really,” your results might reflect implementation challenges rather than the interventions themselves. 

Step 3: Use Team Reflections to Add Context 

Quantitative data tells part of the story, your MTSS team fills in the rest. I always encourage teams not to skip this step. The stories, context, and professional judgment your team brings can validate what the data is showing or challenge it in ways that lead to better decisions. 

Host debrief sessions with teachers, interventionists, counselors, and administrators to answer: 

• What interventions or strategies worked particularly well—and for whom? 

• What roadblocks did teams face this year? (e.g., scheduling, staff capacity, lack of training) 

• What systems or workflows saved time or added clarity? 

This qualitative feedback helps explain what’s behind the data—and points toward practical improvements for next year. 

Step 4: Plan for Next Semester 

After reviewing your MTSS data and team reflections, identify 2–3 clear priorities for the upcoming semester or school year. Setting too many goals is a common trap. I often advise teams to focus on a small set of high-impact improvements—it keeps momentum strong and builds confidence across the system. 

Common next steps include: 

• Refining Tier 1 practices: Adjust curriculum, instruction, or assessments to reduce the number of students needing intervention. 

• Updating intervention menus: Add or replace strategies based on what worked this year. 

• Strengthening documentation or progress monitoring tools: Improve how you track student data and staff actions in your platform. 

• Training and onboarding: Identify who needs support understanding the MTSS process, especially if you’re onboarding new staff. 

If you’re using a platform like OnCourse, this is also a good time to review how well your system supports intervention tracking, data visibility, and team collaboration—and request updates or training if needed. 

Why OnCourse MTSS? 

OnCourse MTSS was built to support every step, giving educators the tools to track student outcomes with clarity, ensure intervention fidelity, and make team collaboration seamless. 

With OnCourse, you can:
✔ Easily compare pre- and post-intervention data across academics, behavior, and attendance
✔ Monitor fidelity with built-in progress tracking and staff activity logs
✔ Analyze equity trends to uncover and address disproportionality
✔ Centralize team reflections and decisions for a full picture of each student’s journey
✔ Refine Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports using real-time insights
✔ Simplify documentation, reporting, and next-step planning—all in one place 

Whether you’re strengthening your core instruction or overhauling intervention menus, OnCourse MTSS helps your team spend less time chasing paperwork and more time making a difference. As MTSS evolves, OnCourse evolves with you—because a dynamic system deserves dynamic tools. 

Ready to make this year’s interventions even more effective? Let’s talk.