Managing Tier 3 Systems of Support

Managing Tier 3 Systems of Support

Students in need of Tier 3 interventions require intensive, individualised supports. Tier 3 strategies often work for students with developmental disabilities, autism, and emotional and behavioural disorders. These supports can prove effective for addressing dangerous and often highly disruptive behaviours that create barriers to learning and exclude students from social settings. 

Supporting the Tier 3 Team

In smaller schools, the BMT may serve Tier 1, 2 and 3 students. In larger schools, students in need of Tier 3 interventions may be supported by individualised student teams with a focus on screening, planning IBPs, and monitoring progress towards each Tier 3 student’s social, emotional and behavioural goals. 
In either case, teams managing students in need of Tier 3 supports should include a coach with training and expertise in the following:

• conducting functional behaviour assessments (FBAs) for students with intense behavioural challenges
• designing and implementing comprehensive individual behaviour plans (IBPs)
• leading interdisciplinary teams in the development of function-based support
• coaching general and special education staff who support students with Tier 3 needs
• collecting and analysing behavioural data for decision-making.

Identifying and Supporting Tier 3 Students

After initial selection by reviewing weekly green–yellow–red zone behavioural data, teacher nominations, parent and support service recommendations and screening instrument scores, students in need of Tier 3 interventions receive a functional behaviour assessment (FBA), which allows the BMT (or Tier 3 team) to identify which interventions are most useful for an individual student.