National Center on Response to Intervention (RTI)

RTI Practices | Caveats and Concerns | Three Dimensions | Resources

Fidelity of implementation is the delivery of instruction in the way in which it was designed to be delivered (Gresham, MacMillan, Beebe-Frankenberger, & Bocian, 2000). Fidelity must also address the integrity with which screening and progress-monitoring procedures are completed and an explicit decision-making model is followed. In an RTI model, fidelity is important at both the school level (implementation of the process) and the teacher level (implementation of instruction and progress monitoring).

When school staffs administer a standardized assessment, the assumption is that the test is administered according to the directions in the test's accompanying manual and that the examiner is qualified. Implementation of RTI must meet the same standard. Direct and frequent assessment of an intervention for fidelity is considered to be best practice. When researching the effectiveness of an intervention, it is critical to be able to report the fidelity with which it was implemented so that any resulting gains in student achievement can be accurately attributed to the intervention under scrutiny and so that the intervention may be replicated. When implementing an intervention, it is critical to know whether it is being implemented as designed, so that if the intervention is initially unsuccessful, schools can take appropriate measures to remedy the deficiency rather than abandoning the entire reform.

Specific proactive practices that help to ensure fidelity of implementation include the following:

• Link interventions to improved outcomes (credibility)
• Definitively describe operations, techniques, and components
• Clearly define responsibilities of specific persons
• Create a data system for measuring operations, techniques, and components
• Create a system for feedback and decision making (formative)
• Create accountability measures for non-compliance

To keep fidelity manageable for schools, we have conceptualized an approach based on the following three dimensions :

1. Method. Different tools provide various kinds of information.
2. Frequency. The frequency with which checks are conducted varies depending on the situation.
3. Support Systems. The feedback and professional development opportunities needed to implement a process with fidelity are provided to staff.

In using this three-dimensional model, a proactive approach will help promote the implementation of RTI as intended, with more intensive support being provided as needed.

More about three dimension model of fidelity of implementation

Gresham, F.M., MacMillan, D.L., Beebe-Frankenberger, M.E., & Bocian, K.M. (2000). Treatment integrity in learning disabilities intervention research: Do we really know how treatments are implemented? Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 15(4), 198-205.