What Are Tiered Interventions?

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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.

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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
• Prevent chronic absenteeism before it escalates
• Track interventions across individuals, schools, and the district

Why It Matters

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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.

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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

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Most districts define attendance interventions this way:

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Tier 1: Universal Supports (All Students)

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Goal: Promote strong attendance for everyone

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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)

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Goal: Support students with early warning signs

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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).

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Tier 3: Intensive Supports (Chronically Absent Students)

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Goal: Address persistent or complex barriers to attendance

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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.

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

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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

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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.

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How Tiered Interventions Impact Districts

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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.

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

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Leading districts are taking the guesswork out of intervention with:

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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.

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

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

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

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

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How Nudge Helps

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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.

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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.

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