In the world of education, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are essential to meet the needs of all students. While Tier 1 (universal supports) and Tier 2 (targeted small group interventions) catch most students, there will always be a small percentage whose needs exceed these levels. So, what happens when Tier 1 and Tier 2 aren’t enough?
Even in schools where Tier 1 and Tier 2 are implemented with fidelity, there will always be a small number of students with the most intense and complex needs. These students require personalized, high-intensity interventions that go beyond what most systems currently have in place.
Dr. Clay Cook, Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong, explains it best: "We can always guarantee variability when the school doors open. Some students will have needs that require more than what Tier 1 and Tier 2 can provide."
Without a clear and effective Tier 3 system:
A common misconception is that Tier 3 only applies to students in special education or those who are referred out to external services. However, Tier 3 is broader than that. It’s about creating in-house supports that serve 1-5% of students—those with the most significant needs, whether behavioral, emotional, or academic.
A successful Tier 3 system is built on a few foundational elements:
Collective Action: Tier 3 is not one person’s job. It requires a coordinated team—school counselors, teachers, administrators, specialists—coming together to problem-solve and implement interventions.
Root Cause Analysis: Before implementing a support plan, teams must identify the underlying reasons for a student’s challenges, whether they stem from skill deficits, environmental factors, or mental health needs.
Precision-Tailored Interventions: The best Tier 3 supports are personalized and based on data. They address both student skill-building and necessary environmental changes to ensure success.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adaptation: Teams regularly review student progress and intervention fidelity, making adjustments as needed to maximize outcomes.
1. Environmental Support Pathway (Behavior-Focused)
2. Skill Support Pathway (Mental Health-Focused)
CharacterStrong has a Tier 3 platform to help schools streamline both pathways, offering tools such as decision-making frameworks, intervention menus, student dashboards, and ongoing professional development.
Research shows that about 40% of student behavior change is directly related to the strength of the relationship with the interventionist, often a trusted adult in the school building.
This means internal Tier 3 supports, delivered by familiar school staff, are not just convenient—they are highly effective.
One common challenge to address is how to get overwhelmed teachers and paraprofessionals to consistently follow through on BIPs when they’re already stretched thin.
The answer? Shift the mindset.
"When we reframe Tier 3 supports as essential to academic success—not something extra—we create buy-in," said Corey Notestine, Chief of Staff at CharacterStrong. "Helping a student manage their behavior is an educational strategy, not just a compliance task."
Additionally, systems need to make Tier 3 as low-burden and high-impact as possible by simplifying data collection, providing targeted training, and offering staff clear, actionable plans.
CharacterStrong’s Tier 3 Solution is built to help schools deliver high-impact, personalized interventions for students with the most intensive social, emotional, and behavioral needs, without adding unnecessary burden to staff.
Access Tier 3 Samples to explore curriculum materials, student workbooks, and the platform tools designed to make Tier 3 effective in your school!