MTSS Tier-2 Intervention Menu + Progress-Monitoring Templates (Free Guide)

Tier-2 should always run with a simple, predictable monitoring routine. No dashboards required—a graph, a goal, and a weekly check are enough to start.

Weekly Academic Monitoring

• Use a brief CBM/Acadience-style probe on the targeted skill.
• Graph the score with an aimline toward the end-of-cycle goal.
• Add a one- to two-sentence teacher note on context or fidelity.

Behavior Monitoring

• Track CICO daily points and percent of days meeting goal.
• Graph ODRs per week by location or period to spot patterns.
• Log brief notes when routines are changed or disrupted.

What to Include on an Exit Form

• Student goal and targeted skill.
• Summary graph of 4+ weeks of data.
• Teacher and family comments.
• Decision: keep, adjust, or exit.

The 4-Week MTSS Tier-2 Cycle

A short, tight cycle helps your team avoid “set and forget” interventions. Use this 4-week rhythm as your default.

Week 1

Baseline & Teach the Routine

Collect 3 baseline data points, teach expectations and intervention steps, and lock in the weekly monitoring schedule.

Weeks 2–3

Run the Intervention

Deliver the intervention consistently, monitor weekly, and tweak dosage or routines quickly if graphs are flat.

Week 4

Decision Meeting

Use the graph, notes, and exit form to decide whether to keep, adjust, or exit the intervention for each student.

Want a partner for this step? If you’d rather have an expert design your first Tier-2 cycle and train your staff to run it with fidelity, our MTSS coaching and setup work can walk your team through the process.

Case Example: Behavior Tier-2 in Action

A 7th-grader with frequent call-outs begins CICO plus a structured choice of first task.

• Days meeting behavior goal rise from 20% to 70%.
• ODRs drop from 3 per month to 1.
• Teacher notes describe improved self-regulation and fewer disruptions.

The power here isn’t a fancy program—it’s a predictable routine, adult connection, and simple data used to adjust support.

Family Communication (Simple & Consistent)

Families don’t need long reports. They need a plain-language explanation of what’s happening and how their child is doing.

Welcome Message

• What the intervention is and the skill it targets.
• Why their child is participating (framed positively).
• How they can encourage or mirror routines at home.

Weekly Update

• Two-sentence progress summary.
• A simple percentage or graph snippet.
• Optional short note from the student or mentor.

Tier-2 FAQ

How many students should be in a Tier-2 group?

Typically 3–8 students, grouped by similar skill needs so the instruction can be targeted and efficient.

How long does a Tier-2 intervention last?

Most Tier-2 cycles run for 4–6 weeks with weekly progress monitoring and a decision meeting at the end.

What if a student isn’t improving?

Check fidelity first—is the intervention happening as planned, with the right frequency? If data are still flat, swap the strategy, increase intensity, or consider Tier-3 support.

Can Tier-2 happen during core instruction?

Yes. Many schools use station rotations or a 10-minute daily routine embedded within Tier-1 instruction to deliver Tier-2 supports without adding extra periods.

What counts as progress in Tier-2?

A rising progress-monitoring graph with most points on or above the aimline, plus classroom evidence like stronger work samples, fewer ODRs, and more independent use of the skill.

Conclusion: Build Tier-2 That Moves Data

Effective Tier-2 systems are built on clarity, routine, and weekly feedback—not a huge menu of disconnected programs. With clear entry and exit rules, a small intervention menu, and consistent progress monitoring, schools can reduce ODRs and improve academic outcomes without adding staff or extra periods.

Start small, protect fidelity, and use your graphs to drive decisions. Once your first cycle is running smoothly, you can layer in more tools and supports.