Tier II Overview: Readiness,
Data-Decisions, and Practices
Tim Lewis, Ph.D.
University of Missouri
OSEP Center on Positive
Behavioral Intervention & Supports
pbis.org
Missouri SW-PBS
pbismissouri.org
Starting Point….
• We cannot “make” students learn or
behave
• We can create environments to increase
the likelihood students learn and behave
• Environments that increase the likelihood
are guided by a core curriculum and
implemented with consistency and fidelity
SW-Positive
Behavior
Support
Social Competence &
Academic Achievement
OUTCOMES
Supporting
Decision
Making
Supporting
Staff Behavior
PRACTICES
Supporting
Student Behavior
Designing School-Wide Systems for Student Success
Academic Systems
Behavioral Systems
Intensive, Individual Interventions
•Individual Students
•Assessment-based
•High Intensity
1-5%
Targeted Group Interventions
•Some students (at-risk)
•High efficiency
•Rapid response
Universal Interventions
•All students
•Preventive, proactive
5-10%
80-90%
1-5%
Intensive, Individual Interventions
•Individual Students
•Assessment-based
•Intense, durable procedures
5-10%
Targeted Group Interventions
•Some students (at-risk)
•High efficiency
•Rapid response
80-90%
Universal Interventions
•All settings, all students
•Preventive, proactive
Universal School-Wide Features
• Clearly define expected behaviors (Rules)
– All Settings
– Classrooms
• Procedures for teaching & practicing expected
behaviors
• Procedures for encouraging expected behaviors
• Procedures for discouraging problem behaviors
• Procedures for data-based decision making
• Family Awareness and Involvement
Tier II
• Efficient and effective way to identify at-risk students
– Screen
– Data decision rules
– Teacher referral
• Informal assessment process to match intervention
to student need
– Small group Social Skill Instruction
– Self-management
– Academic Support
• Progress Monitoring
• Part of a continuum – must
link to universal
school-wide PBS system
Tier III
• Non response to Tier II
• When problem intense and chronic
• Driven by Functional Behavioral Assessment &
other individualized assessments
• Connections to Mental Health and Community
Agencies (Integrated Framework Monograph)
• Part of a continuum – must link to
universal school-wide PBS system
SAT Process
Teacher Training and
Support
Targeted Interventions
Individual Student Plans
Core Team/Classrooms
Implement AIS
Monitor Progress
Refer to SAT
SAT Team
Administrator
Counselor
Behavior Specialist
STAT Team
Core Team Representative
SAT Partner
Core Team Teachers
*Meets Weekly
School-Wide Systems
Matrix
Lesson Plans
School-Wide Data
Acknowledgement
Communication
RRKS Team
Core Team Representative
District PBS Support
Building Administrator and
Counselors
*Meets Monthly
Data Determine When Your SWPBS
Team is Ready to Build Supports
Beyond Universals
Readiness for Tier 2
• SWPBS universal systems are consistently
implemented with fidelity
– School-wide
– Non-Classroom
– Classroom
• SWPBS Universal System Outcomes
– SET or BoQ score of 80% or higher
within past 18 months
– SAS: 80% of staff report that School-wide, NonClassroom & Classroom Systems are in place
Readiness for Tier 2
• SWPBS Universal System Outcomes
– Data indicating 80% of students with 0-1 ODR or
within national average for the school’s grade
levels
– Consistent use of school-wide data for making
decisions as evidenced by monthly Big 5 Data
Reports
– System in place to collect classroom minor
referrals
Baseline Behavior Data Spring
57 students
with 9+
Referrals
15% Tier 3
Goal 5%
16% Tier 2
6+ Referrals
2-5 Referrals
Goal 15%
69% Tier 1
Goal 80%
1712 referrals
0-1 Referral
Post Intensifying Tier I + Classrooms
16
Students
with 9+
Referrals
7% Tier 3
Goal 5%
10% Tier 2
6+ Referrals
2-5 Referrals
Goal 15%
83% Tier 1
Goal 80%
516 Referrals
0-1 Referrals
Readiness for Tier 2
• Evidence of implementation of Classroom
Essential Practices & a process developed for
ongoing training faculty/staff.
Classroom Universal Essential Practices
1. Classroom expectations & rules defined and taught (all use
school-wide, create classroom examples)
2. Procedures & routines defined and taught
3. Continuum of strategies to acknowledge appropriate
behavior in place and used with high frequency (4:1)
4. Continuum of strategies to respond to inappropriate behavior
in place and used per established school-wide procedure
5. Students are actively supervised (pre-corrects and positive
feedback)
6. Students are given multiple opportunities to respond (OTR)
to promote high rates of academic engagement
7. Activity sequence promotes optimal instruction time and
student engaged time
8. Instruction is differentiated based on student need
Turn & Talk
What is your school doing to support
effective classroom management?
Challenge: How to Insure All
Staff Are Using Effective Practices
http://pbismissouri.org/educators/effe
ctive-class-practice
Typical School Day
17%
33%
20%
30%
Direct Instruction
Seatwork
Transitions
Discipline & Other
Non-Instructional
Activities
Cotton, 1995; Walberg, 1988
MO SW-PBS
324
Discussion: Importance of
expectations & behaviors?
• Pair Up
• 2-Minute Frenzy – Discuss:
– How has clarifying schoolwide/non-classroom
setting behaviors/rules impacted student
behavior in our school?
– Why do you think it is important to clarify
classroom behaviors/rules?
Activity: Classroom Rule Writing Activity
Option 1
• List problem behaviors in your classroom
• List replacement behavior (what we want kids
to do instead)
• List schoolwide expectations
• Categorize rules within schoolwide
expectations
Classroom Systems
• Teach
– Brief in-service, single
topic focus
• Practice (performance
feedback)
– Peer coaching
– Principal “walk
through”
– Direct observation /
data collection
Universal/Pre Tier II Classroom
Example
The Beginning – Background Info.
• School used a universal screening instrument
in October of 2012.
• Results indicated that 32.3% of students were
in the at-risk or high-risk range.
• Team decided to focus first efforts on
implementation of Tier 1 with higher levels of
fidelity.
Baseline Data Collection
• Classroom-Level Observations of Effective
Classroom Practices
 Expectations & Rules
 Procedures & Routines
 Encouraging Expected Behavior
 Discouraging Inappropriate Behavior
 Active Supervision
 Opportunities to Respond
Initial ratio
of positive
specific
feedback to
correctives:
1.85:1
• Based on data, team identified 1 practice to
improve upon.
Professional Development Process & Data
October 2012– Initial Observations, Ratio at 1.85:1
January 2013 – Staff Professional Development on
Positive Specific Feedback
February 2013 – Follow-up Classroom
Observations, Ratio at 2.44:1
March 2013 – Additional Staff Professional
Development with Increased Practice and Supports
May 2013 – Final Classroom Observations of the
School Year, Ratio at 6.55:1
End of Year Outcomes
• ODRs decreased by 39.41% from 2011-2012 to
2012-2013.
• Minor referrals decreased by 34.8% from
2011-2012 to 2012-2013.
• Classroom minor referrals decreased by 33.5%
from 2011-2012 to 2012-2013.
Identifying Students
Data Decision Rules
• Office Discipline Referral (ODR)
– Major
– Minor
• Time out of Instruction
– Buddy Room
– Safe Seats
– “Discipline” Room
RRKS TOC
RRKS – Time Out of Class
(front side)
Code: _____
Student: _________________________ Date:______________________
Incident Time: ____________________# of min. out of rm.: __________
Teacher: _______________________Subject: ____________________
What did you do/not do that got you sent out of class?
___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Circle the RRKS expectation that was not followed:
Respect Responsible Kind Safe
What will you do differently next
time?______________________________________
RRKS TOC
Processing Checklist:
Processing data & time:
(back side)
Whole group instruction
• Review with the student reason he/she was
sent out.
• Teach & practice replacement behavior.
• Provide positive reinforcement for
replacement behavior.
• Check the setting in which the behavior
occurred.
Small group instruction
Individual work
Working with peers
Alone
1-on-1 instruction
Interacting with peers
Other: Please identify below
Minor List: Circle the appropriate code
(MDD)
Defiance/Disrespect/Noncompliance
(MDS)
Disruption
(MI)
Inappropriate Verbal
Language
( MO) Other
(MPC) Phys.
Contact
(MP) Property Misuse
Other Strategies to Identify Students
• Teacher Referral
– Questions to discuss:
•
•
•
•
Who completes
When
What data must be used/cited
Focus on externalizing and internalizing
• Screening
– What instrument
(http://pbismissouri.org/archives/2866)
– Schedule
http://pbismissouri.org/archives/2866
Turn & Talk
• Do you currently have Tier II data decision
rules or identification strategies?
• What data are you currently colleting that
could be used?
Tier II Practices and Supports
Tier II Supports
• Check in / Check Out
• Social Skill Groups
• Academic Supports
Logistics for Setting up a CICO program
Daily CICO progress report card
• Same expectations for all
• Common schedule
• All staff taught rules for accepting, completing and
returning the card.
Home report process
• Can be same as progress card
• Can be a unique reporting form
Logistics for Setting up a CICO
program
Morning Check-in Routine
• Teaching students when, when, how
• Teaching check-in coordinator
» Assess
» Reward
» Set-up or Redirect
Teacher Check-in/Check-out Routine
• Teach students when, when, how
• Teaching staff/faculty
» Reward
» Set-up for success, positive momentum
» Evaluation
Logistics for Setting up a CICO
program
Afternoon Check-out Routine
• Teach students when, where, how
• Teach CICO coordinator data collection, acknowledge
success, encourage improvement.
• Consider self-recording system for older students
Family Review Routine
• Teach students when, where, how
• Teach family only to acknowledge success, sign
CICO Record
Name: ____________________________
0 = Need work, 1 = “OK” 2 = Nice Job
Date: ______________
Safe
Responsible
Respectful
Check In
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Before
Recess
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Before
Lunch
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
After Recess
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Check Out
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Today’s goal
Comments:
Today’s total points
HAWK Report
Student _______________Teacher___________________
Date ________
Be Safe
0 = Not Yet
1= Good
2= Excellent
Be
Respectful
Keep hands,
feet, and objects
to self
Be Your Personal Best Teacher
initials
Use kind
words
and actions
Follow
directions
Class
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Recess
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Class
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Lunch
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Class
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Recess
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Class
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Total Points =
Points Possible =
Today ______________%
50
Working in
class
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
0
1
2
Goal ______________%
CICO Home Report
Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________
______ I met my goal today
______ I had a hard day
One thing I did really well today was:_______________________
Something I will work on tomorrow is: _______________________
Comments:
Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________________________________
Comments:
Check & Connect
• Developed for high-risk urban students at the
secondary level (Anderson, Christenson, Sinclair, Lehr, 2004; Evelo, Sinclair, Hurley, Christenson,
Thurlow, 1996)
• Utilizes a monitoring system with two components
– Check
– Systematically assess the extent to which students are
engaged in school.
– Connect
– Respond on a regular basis to students’ educational needs
according to their type and level of risk for disengagement
from school.
• Establish an adult mentor at school to enhance
school engagement
CHECK
M Tu W Th F
M Tu W Th F
M Tu W Th F
M Tu W Th F
M Tu W Th F
Tardy
Skip
Absent
Behavior referral
Detention
In-school suspension
Out-of-school suspension
Failing classes/Behind in credits
BASIC
Shared general information
Provided regular feedback
Discussed staying in school
Problem-solved about risk
INTENSIVE
Arranged for alternative to
suspension
Contracted for behavior or
grades
Communicated with parents
Made special accommodations
Participated in community
service
Participated in social skills group
Worked with tutor or mentor
Other_____________________
_____ F’s
_____ Classes passed out of _____ total
____Credits earned out of _____ total
< High risk for month
CONNECT
_____ D’s
Social Skill Instruction
Definition- Social Competence
“Social competence represents an evaluative term
based on judgments (given certain criteria) that
a person has performed a task adequately.
These judgments may be based on opinions of
significant others (e.g., parents, teachers),
comparisons to explicit criteria (e.g., number of
social tasks correctly performed in relation to
some criterion), or comparisons to some
normative sample.” (Gresham, 1986, p. 146)
Definition -Social Skills
Social skills are defined as "those behaviors which,
within a given situation, predict important social
outcomes" (Gresham, 1986, p. 5).
a) social skills are simply one facet of an overall
construct of social competence – if taught in isolation
you will never reach the larger objective of improved
social functioning, b) they are linked to the
environment in which they occur, and c) targeted
skills should reflect the larger school set of
behavioral expectations
Steps in Social Skill Instruction
•
•
•
•
•
Assessment
Planning
Lesson Development
Teaching
Generalization
Lesson Components
• rule for when to use the skill
• set of useful skill variations
–
–
–
–
–
teach the rule (TELL)
demonstrate the skill (SHOW)
students practice the skill (PRACTICE)
review and test the skill (PRACTICE)
assign homework (PRACTICE)
Teaching social skills follows the same format as
teaching academic skills
Academic Supports
•
•
•
•
Peer tutoring
Homework Club
Content focused study halls
Accomodations
Monitor Student Progress and
Evaluate Process
• Original data sources that lead to student identification
–
–
–
–
–
ODR
Attendance
Academics
“time out of class”
Teacher perception
• Key = frequent and regular
– Celebrate success
– Adjust if student doesn’t respond (or problems start
reappearing)
• Cost –Benefit Analysis of overall process
Turn & Talk
• What Tier II supports do you have in place?
• What Tier II supports seem feasible and would
address some of your current concerns?
Designing Tier II Systems
School-wide PBIS
Tiered Fidelity Inventory
Tier II Supports
•
•
•
•
•
Centralized
Each has a coordinator
Placed in support by Tier II Team
Classroom supports continued / modified
ALL in building aware of their role in
supporting students in Tier II Supports
Tiered Fidelity Inventory
2.1 Team Composition
Feature
2.1 Team Composition: Tier II (or

combined Tier II/III) team includes a Tier
II systems coordinator and individuals

able to provide (a) applied behavioral
expertise, (b) administrative authority, (c)
knowledge of students, and (d)
knowledge about operation of school
across grade levels and programs.
Data Sources
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
School
0 = Tier II team does not include
organizational chart
coordinator or all 4 core areas of
Tier II team meeting
Tier II team expertise
minutes
1 = Tier II team does not include
coordinator and all 4 core areas
of Tier II team expertise OR
attendance of these members is
below 80%
Main Idea: Tier II team needs
individuals with specific skills and
perspectives to implement Tier II
supports.
2 = Tier II team is composed of
coordinator and individuals with
all 4 areas of expertise, AND
attendance of these members is
at or above 80%
2.2 Team Operating Procedures
Feature
2.2 Team Operating Procedures: Tier II
team meets at least monthly and has (a)
regular meeting format/agenda, (b)
minutes, (c) defined meeting roles, and
(d) a current action plan.
Data Sources



Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
Tier II team meeting 0 = Tier II team does not use
agendas and
regular meeting format/agenda,
minutes
minutes, defined roles, or a
Tier II meeting roles
current action plan
descriptions
1= Tier II team has at least 2 but
Tier II action plan
not all 4 features
Main Idea: Tier II teams need
meeting foundations in order
operate efficiently and to
implement effective supports.
2 = Tier II team meets at least
monthly and uses regular
meeting format/agenda,
minutes, defined roles, AND has
a current action plan
2.3 Screening
Feature
2.3 Screening: Tier II team uses decision 
rules and multiple sources of data (e.g.,
ODRs, academic progress, screening
tools, attendance, teacher/family/student
nominations) to identify students who
require Tier II supports.
Data Sources
Multiple data
sources used
(ODRs/Time out of
instruction,
Attendance,
Academic
performance)
 Team Decision
Main Idea: Timely selection
of
Rubric
 Team meeting
students for Tier II supports
minutes
 School
improves the effectiveness
of Policy
Tier
II implementation.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = No specific rules for identifying
students who qualify for Tier II
supports
1 = Data decision rules established
but not consistently followed or
used with only one data source
2 = Written policy exists that (a)
uses multiple data sources for
identifying students, and (b)
ensures that families are
notified when a student enters
Tier II supports
2.4 Request for Assistance
Feature
2.4 Request for Assistance: Tier II
planning team uses written request for
assistance form and process that are
available to all staff, families, and
students.
Data Sources



School Handbook
Request for
Assistance Form
Family Handbook
Main Idea: Faculty, staff,
families should have a highly
predictable, and low-effort
strategy for requesting behavior
assistance.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = No formal process
1 = Informal process in place for
staff and families to request
behavioral assistance
2 = Written request for assistance
process is in place and team
responds to request within 3
days
2.5 Sufficient Array of Tier II Interventions
Feature
2.5 Sufficient Array of Tier II
Interventions: Tier II team has multiple
ongoing behavior support interventions
with documented evidence of
effectiveness matched to student need.
Data Sources


School Tier II
Handbook
Targeted
Interventions
Reference Guide
Main Idea: A wide array of
intervention options increases the
likelihood that student needs are
met and done so in a timely way.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = No Tier II interventions with
documented evidence of
effectiveness are in use
1 = Only 1 Tier II intervention with
documented evidence of
effectiveness is in use
2 = Multiple Tier II interventions
with documented evidence of
effectiveness matched to
student need
2.6 Tier II Critical Features
Feature
2.6 Tier II Critical Features: Tier II
behavior support interventions provide
(a) additional instruction/time for student
skill development, (b) additional
structure/predictability, and/or (c)
increased opportunity for feedback (e.g.,
daily progress report).
Data Sources





Universal lesson
plans
Tier II lesson plans
Daily/weekly
progress report
School schedule
School Tier II
handbook
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = Tier II interventions do not
promote additional
instruction/time, improved
structure, or increased feedback
1 = All Tier II interventions provide
some but not all 3 core Tier II
features
II interventions include
Main Idea: Tier II supports should 2 =allAll3Tier
core Tier II features
focus on improving the skills and
context needed for student
success.
2.7 Practices Matched to Student Need
Feature
2.7 Practices Matched to Student Need:
A formal process is in place to select Tier
II interventions that are (a) matched to
student need (e.g., behavioral function),
and (b) adapted to improve contextual fit
(e.g., culture, developmental level).
Data Sources





Data sources used
to identify
interventions
School Policy
Tier II Handbook
Needs assessment
Targeted
Interventions
Reference Guide
Main Idea: Tier II support strategies
are evidence-based, and designed
with preliminary assessment
information (or assumptions) about
student need.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = No process in place
1 = Process for selecting Tier II
interventions does not include
documentation that
interventions are matched to
student need
2 = Formal process in place to
select practices that match
student need and have
contextual fit (e.g.,
developmentally and culturally
appropriate)
2.10 Level of Use
Feature
2.10 Level of Use: Team follows written
process to track proportion of students
participating in Tier II supports, and
access is proportionate.
Data Sources



Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
Tier II enrollment
0 = Team does not track number of
data
students responding to Tier II
Tier II team meeting
interventions
minutes
Progress monitoring 1 = Student data monitored but no
data decision rules established
tool
to alter (e.g., intensify or fade)
support
Main Idea: Tier II supports
that are used too little (e.g.
1%) or too much (e.g. 20%)
are not sustainable.
2 = Team defines criteria and tracks
proportion, with at least 5% of
students receiving Tier II
supports
2.11 Student Performance Data
Feature
2.11 Student Performance Data: Tier II

team tracks proportion of students
experiencing success (% of participating
students being successful) and uses Tier II
intervention outcomes data and decision 
rules for progress monitoring and
modification.

Data Sources
Student progress
data (e.g., % of
students meeting
goals)
Intervention
Tracking Tool
Daily/Weekly
Progress Report
sheets
Family
communication
Main Idea: Tier II team needs
regular access to information
about student success to be able
to adapt and improve Tier II
supports.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = Student data not monitored
1 = Student data monitored but no
data decision rules established
to alter (e.g., intensify or fade)
support
2 = Student data (% of students
being successful) monitored and
used at least monthly , with data
decision rules established to
alter (e.g., intensify or fade)
support, and shared with
stakeholders
2.12 Fidelity Data
Feature
2.12 Fidelity Data: Tier II team has a
protocol for on-going review of fidelity
for each Tier II practice.
Data Sources



Tier II coordinator
training
District technical
assistance
Fidelity probes
taken monthly by a
Tier II team
member
Main Idea: Fidelity
assessments should always
be included as part of
implementation practice.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = Fidelity data are not collected
for any practice
1 = Fidelity data (e.g., direct, selfreport) collected for some but
not all Tier II interventions
2 = Periodic, direct assessments of
fidelity collected by Tier II team
for all Tier II interventions
2.13 Evaluation
Feature
2.13 Annual Evaluation: At least
annually, Tier II team assesses overall
effectiveness and efficiency of strategies,
including data-decision rules to identify
students, range of interventions available,
fidelity of implementation, and on-going
support to implementers, and evaluations
are shared with staff and district
leadership.
Data Sources






Staff and student
surveys
Tier II handbook
Fidelity tools
School Policy
Student outcomes
District Reports
Main Idea: Any strategy or procedure
needs to be reviewed at least
annually and revised to remain
current and match changes in the
school.
Scoring Criteria
0 = Not implemented
1 = Partially implemented
2 = Fully implemented
0 = No data-based evaluation takes
place
1 = Evaluation conducted,
outcomes not used to shape the
Tier II process
2 = Evaluation conducted at least
annually, and outcomes shared
with staff and district leadership,
clear alterations in process
proposed based on evaluation
Big Ideas
•
•
•
•
•
•
Readiness
Continued focus on Universals
Behavioral Expertise v. job title
Continue “instructional focus”
Strategic training and technical assistance
Formative and Summative evaluation of the
process