Understanding How Tiered Intervention Platforms Improve Academics

About the Research

A series of rapid response studies in 2024 and 2025 examined student growth and school-level implementation across five interventions. Students demonstrated growth across all interventions, with minimal differences by intervention type. However, growth varied meaningfully across schools, suggesting implementation differences mattered more than the specific intervention. Follow up qualitative analyses of high-growth schools examined common approaches to tiered implementation and enabling conditions that supported more effective use.

District Impact

The research team created a “tip sheet” for elementary and middle school leaders based on the enabling conditions that led to sustained reading or math gains on the Fastbridge screener. 

Study Team Members

Marcia Barnes (VU – Professor of Special Education)
Kelley Durkin (VU – Research Assistant Professor)
Luke Rainey
(VU – Senior Research Coordinator)
Katie Pattullo
(MNPS – Director, Multi-Tiered Intervention System of Supports)
Casey Souders (MNPS – Data Coach)
Melissa Brock (MNPS – Coordinaor, Dyslexia Specific Instruction and Intervention)
Krista Davis (MNPS – Director, Research and Evaluation)

Related News & Publications

June 17, 2025
Second Annual Research Symposium Gathers VU, MNPS Leaders in Partnership
December 16, 2024
Understanding how MNPS’s tiered and special education interventions are working to improve students’ literacy and numeracy

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