Why Schools Struggle with Tier 3—and How to Build Stronger Systems of Support

Despite best intentions, many schools find themselves overwhelmed when it comes to implementing Tier 3 supports. Whether due to limited resources, unclear processes, or workforce burnout, it’s easy for Tier 3 to feel out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be.

In this blog, we’re breaking down why Tier 3 is such a challenge—and how building systems with clarity, consistency, and compassion can unlock the support students need most.

What Tier 3 Really Is (and Isn’t)

Tier 3 is designed for a small number of students with persistent or urgent needs—students for whom Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports haven’t been enough. But this intensive support doesn’t belong in a single room or with a single staff member. Tier 3 is a team-based, problem-solving process that delivers personalized, data-informed interventions rooted in compassion and care.

Unfortunately, many schools view Tier 3 as something reactive: a referral, an office, or a last resort. In reality, it’s part of a proactive, preventative ecosystem that functions best when Tier 1 and Tier 2 systems are strong.

Why Tier 3 Support Matter

Students spend a huge portion of their day at school, and for many, that’s where they receive critical mental health and behavioral support. Research shows that the majority of students receiving mental health services get them at school—not from clinics or community-based providers.

And with 1 in 4 students struggling with significant challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, or executive functioning deficits, schools need systems that allow those students to be seen, supported, and successful.

The Barriers Schools Face

So why is Tier 3 so hard to implement?

1. Lack of Capacity
   Too many students are referred for Tier 3 support because Tier 1 and Tier 2 systems aren’t strong enough. Without a solid foundation, more students “move up” the pyramid—not because they need intensive support, but because they haven’t received early, effective interventions.
2. Lack of Clarity
   Many schools lack clear decision-making criteria and structured, collaborative teams. Tier 3 becomes “one person’s job” rather than a collective effort grounded in data and shared goals.
3. Workforce Confidence
   Staff often feel unprepared or unsupported when delivering Tier 3 interventions. Even when staff have the capability, a lack of usable resources or training leads to hesitation and over-reliance on referrals to special education or external mental health providers.
4. Overburdened Systems
   Special education teams are overwhelmed with referrals. Contracted providers may be siloed from school systems. Staff feel like they’re always “putting out fires” without time to build sustainable systems.

What Effective Tier 3 Implementation Looks Like

Strong Tier 3 systems are not just a collection of interventions—they are integrated, equitable, and intentional. Here’s what they include:

• A Multi-Tiered Foundation
  Tier 3 is only sustainable when Tier 1 (schoolwide culture and relational practices) and Tier 2 (targeted group supports) are functioning well. These layers reduce the demand for Tier 3 and allow teams to focus resources on students who truly need individualized support.
• Data-Driven Decision Making
  Teams use multiple sources of data—not just referrals or office discipline records—to make informed, equitable decisions about which students need what kinds of support, and when.
• Collaborative Teams
  Tier 3 is a team sport. Effective implementation includes teachers, specialists, counselors, administrators, and families, all aligned around a common process and committed to reviewing progress together.
• Scalable, Usable Tools
  Staff need supports they can actually use—not binders collecting dust. From training to fidelity tools to coaching, systems must be built for real-world school environments.

How CharacterStrong Supports Tier 3 Success

At CharacterStrong, we’ve built a comprehensive Tier 3 solution designed to help schools overcome these exact challenges.

1. Personalized Intervention Paths
We help teams identify root causes and match students to tailored supports—whether they need skill building, environmental support, or both.

2. Team-Driven Processes
Our platform guides teams through step-by-step decision-making with built-in fidelity checks, data analysis, and collaborative planning.

3. Usable Interventions
No need to reinvent the wheel. We provide evidence-based content and tools that educators can deliver with confidence—even without a mental health background.

4. Ongoing Training & Coaching
From asynchronous role-based training to our Tier 3 Certification training and Professional Developement with experts, we support staff with the knowledge and coaching they need to do this work well.

5. Equity-Focused Development
We're building features like demographic insights and rostering tools to help teams analyze and improve how supports are being delivered across student groups.

Schools and districts can explore the CharacterStrong Tier 3 Solution—designed to provide powerful, personalized support where it’s needed most.

Get access to free Tier 3 sample lessons today!

Tier 3 doesn’t have to feel impossible. With a strong foundation, a clear process, and the right tools, it becomes a powerful way to restore hope, deepen belonging, and transform student outcomes. When we build systems that work for the students who need the most support, we build better systems for everyone.