Reading Tiered Fidelity Inventory (R-TFI)

School Leadership Teams need to know how well their MTSS for reading is implemented in their school. The Reading Tiered Fidelity Inventory (R-TFI) lists the core features of MTSS for Tier 1 and the Advanced Tiers. Each can be assessed separately.

The School Leadership Team and other invited respondents review and score the features.

There is an Elementary-level Edition and a Secondary-Level Edition of the Reading Tiered Fidelity Inventory (R-TFI). The Universal Tier 1 items vary slightly across each edition to match the unique data, systems, and practices of schools supporting students at different grade levels. The Advanced Tiers items are the same across both editions. 

The R-TFI is used in schools that are engaged in an intensive professional learning scope and sequence to implement an integrated reading and behavior MTSS model. If you are interested in using the R-TFI and are not participating with MiMTSS Technical Assistance Center, please contact Dr. Kimberly St. Martin (kstmartin@mimtss.org) for resources and potential participation in research.

Administering the Assessment

A trained R-TFI facilitator administers the assessment. It is recommended that all School Leadership Team members actively participate in completing the Tier 1 items in the R-TFI 2.0. It is also recommended the core members of the Multidisciplinary Team actively participate in completing the Advanced Tier items. 

Involvement of the entire team will result in:

  1. A more accurate assessment, 
  2. A greater understanding of the school’s strengths and challenges regarding the implementation of effective reading instruction, and
  3. Greater ownership of the improvement process. 

Team members can abstain from voting on the score for an item if they do not feel knowledgeable enough about work that has happened. Do not administer the R-TFI unless the majority of the team is present, including the school principal.