Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 Interventions

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 Interventions

What Are Tiered Interventions?

Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions are part of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that schools use to deliver support based on students’ needs. This tiered framework is commonly used in academics, behavior, and — increasingly — attendance improvement.

In the context of attendance, the tiered approach helps schools:

• Deliver the right level of support to each student
• Use data to drive decision-making
• Prevent chronic absenteeism before it escalates
• Track interventions across individuals, schools, and the district

Why It Matters

Attendance challenges vary. Some students just need a reminder; others need help overcoming serious barriers like housing instability or anxiety. A one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work — but tiered interventions do.

With a strong tiered structure, districts can:

• Respond early and effectively
• Prevent unnecessary escalation to truancy or SARB
• Improve equity by ensuring students get what they need
• Fulfill state requirements for progressive intervention models

How Schools Use This Term in Practice

Most districts define attendance interventions this way:

Tier 1: Universal Supports (All Students)

Goal: Promote strong attendance for everyone

Examples:

• Clear attendance expectations and communication to families
• School-wide attendance messaging and campaigns
• Daily monitoring and attendance tracking systems
• Incentives and recognition for good attendance
• Welcome calls, positive messages, back-to-school nights

Tier 2: Targeted Supports (At-Risk Students)

Goal: Support students with early warning signs

Examples:

• Attendance success plans
• Check-in/check-out (CICO) systems
• Parent calls or conferences
• Small group interventions
• Mentorship or advisory check-ins
• Weekly attendance goals with progress monitoring

Tier 2 is often triggered when a student misses 5–9 days or shows a concerning pattern (e.g., consecutive Mondays missed).

Tier 3: Intensive Supports (Chronically Absent Students)

Goal: Address persistent or complex barriers to attendance

Examples:

• Case management by counselor or social worker
• Home visits
• SARB referral process
• Wraparound services (e.g., mental health, housing, transportation)
• Multi-agency intervention plans
• Individualized support through IEP or 504 teams (when applicable)

Tier 3 is generally used when a student has missed 10% or more of the year, especially when other supports have failed.

What’s the Difference Between Tier 2 and Tier 3?

The main difference lies in the intensity, coordination, and complexity of support.

• Tier 2 is still school-managed, short-term, and often structured as a light lift (e.g., weekly check-ins).
• Tier 3 is longer-term, personalized, and may require multi-agency coordination or legal compliance (e.g., SARB).

Related Terms and Concepts

• MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) – The framework that defines how tiers are structured
• Attendance Success Plan – A common Tier 2 intervention
• Wraparound Services – Often included in Tier 3 responses
• Early Warning Systems – Help identify students who need Tier 2 or Tier 3 supports
• Chronic Absenteeism – A key indicator for Tier 3 placement

Example Scenario

A student in Sacramento City USD has missed 6 days by October — mostly Mondays and Fridays. The school flags them for Tier 2 intervention. A counselor meets with the family to create a success plan, and the student begins weekly check-ins. Later, the student begins missing school again and hits 15 days total. The team escalates the case to Tier 3 and coordinates a home visit and counseling referral.

How Tiered Interventions Impact Districts

A clear tiered system allows districts to:

• Prioritize limited resources where they’re most needed
• Document progressive intervention steps for compliance and SARB
• Improve ADA and reduce chronic absenteeism
• Promote equity by ensuring students don’t fall through the cracks
• Train staff around when and how to respond to attendance issues

Without tiered structures, schools risk inconsistent support, delayed response, and missed opportunities to re-engage students early.

How Are Schools Across the U.S. Implementing Tiered Attendance Supports?

Leading districts are taking the guesswork out of intervention with:

1. Tiered Playbooks
Districts are creating clear guidelines on what qualifies as Tier 1, 2, or 3 — and what staff should do at each level.

2. Weekly Attendance Huddles
Schools meet regularly to review Tier 2 and 3 students, assign next steps, and follow up on progress.

3. Centralized Tracking Tools
Rather than relying on spreadsheets, districts are using platforms like Nudge to track interventions by tier and monitor success.

4. Equity Filters
Some districts disaggregate tiered data by student group to ensure fairness and reduce bias in intervention referrals.

5. Systemwide Training
Districts are training teachers, clerks, and counselors in MTSS-aligned intervention logic to promote consistency across sites.

How Nudge Helps

Nudge is built around the MTSS model — making it easy to track attendance interventions by tier and align your entire district around one unified strategy.

With Nudge, you can:

• Flag students for Tier 2 or Tier 3 based on attendance trends
• Assign and track interventions at each level
• Monitor district-wide consistency in how tiers are applied
• Export reports for compliance, funding, or SARB documentation
• Equip school teams to act earlier, faster, and with more clarity

Because good attendance systems don’t just track — they respond.

Want to Organize Your Attendance Work by Tier?

See how Nudge helps districts operationalize MTSS with clear, consistent, and effective tiered attendance interventions.

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