Favorite Sites and Resources
- ConnectedMTSS
- May 16, 2023
- 4 min read
A while ago, I submitted a reasonably informal article to a state school psychologist association about resources that could be used by school psych’s to nudge MTSS, the science of reading, or other evidence-based practices forward. The list is included below and is not related only to school psychologists. Any educators looking for discipline-agnostic resources could use any of these for evidence-supporting practices or continuous improvement efforts in their school or district.
Here’s my list in no particular order. For many, I suspect these are well known. But, if any are new to you, please check them out.
MTSS Fidelity Rubrics:
Often, at the beginning of a school year, MTSS teams meet to discuss the priorities for the year. The team may brainstorm and generate a long list of topics, yet a clear focus may be lacking. The MTSS fidelity rubrics listed below are grounded in research and have been validated through use and evaluation. Either rubric could be shared with teams and used to establish a common vision for framework development and then used as an assessment to monitor progress over time.
Implementation Science and System Change
The National Implementation Research Network housed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in the business of studying change and they provide numerous tools that guide teams to implement change effectively and efficiently. If change is involved, they probably studied it and have a helpful resource.
Stages of Implementation (NIRN)
Teams often have good intentions to launch new practices or initiatives. Without sound implementation, plans can be derailed or progress can stall. The NIRN Stages of Implementation identifies the steps necessary for the successful implementation of an initiative.
The Stages of Implementation could be referenced in a situation where a team has a goal to develop and deploy a new MTSS Framework. In the case of MTSS framework development, a rubric could be used to shape the vision and the Stages of Implementation could be used to guide the deployment.
Hexagon Tool (NIRN)
As teams examine their MTSS framework, it may become clear that interventions are needed to fill gaps in service delivery. However, many interventions are selected based on marketing, conference presentations, or word of mouth from teachers in a neighboring district. The Hexagon Tool provides a decision-making framework that teams can use to examine options through a consistent lens. The Hexagon helps ensure that tools/products are examined in an objective and balanced process.
Rubric for Evaluating Reading/Language Arts Instructional Materials for Kindergarten to Grade 5
As the SOR movement gains momentum, there could be a call to audit the resources, curriculum, or interventions used in a school or district. Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs) are positioned throughout the United States. The REL Southeast developed this rubric to align with evidence-based reading instruction where teams can evaluate reading resources in grades K-2 or 3-5. The rubric could be used to validate that current resources are adequate for continued use or when reviewing possible replacement curricula.
Institute for Education Practices (IES) Practice Guides
The IES has been gathering panels of experts to develop Practice Guides for many years. The Practice Guides focus on a challenging area of education and the panel of experts reviews relevant and qualifying research to develop key recommendations. The recommendations could be used in team meetings to examine if elements are present in classrooms or interventions. If student improvement is less than expected, use of the Practice Guides could be used to facilitate a problem-solving discussion and identify possible solutions.
Best Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE) - Johns Hopkins University
Another site that provides reviews of programs and syntheses of best practices is the BEE. This site is useful when looking to review whether programs are deployed according to best practices or to build a deployment plan when initiating a new program or supplemental program. For example, as ed-tech programs increase in use, this site has valuable information on how programs can be deployed according to best practices.
Ceedar Center Innovation Configurations (ICs)
The Ceedar Center based at the University of Florida has been generating ICs for several years. Similar to Practice Guides, the ICs provide somewhat of a roadmap for how educators could implement evidence-based practices in schools. The ICs contain the required elements of evidence-based practices and provide guidance on how schools could implement the practices.
IRIS Center- located at Vanderbilt University
IRIS provides interactive modules that provide professional development and resources to guide the implementation of evidence-based practices. IRIS has created numerous engaging and informational modules that educational professionals can complete independently. Resources are included to guide the implementation and deployment of evidence-based practices.
Evidence-Based Intervention Network- located at the Univerity of Missouri
The EBI Network provides free, evidence-based interventions for reading, math, and behavior. The interventions are targeted at students who need to acquire the skill, become more fluent with the skills, and adapt or generalize how they use the skill. The EBI Network is worth a look when you need a quick behavioral intervention.
Curricula and Intervention Research and Review
The National Center for Intensive Intervention (NCII)
The NCII has been around for several years but they continue to provide updated academic and behavioral screening and monitoring tools charts and academic and behavioral intervention charts. When teams are deciding between interventions or assessments, the NCII tools provide a one-stop source where research and reviews are compiled for numerous options. Publishers opt into review by the NCII which means not all tools are reviewed. However, the tools reviewed are generally more on the side of research-based AND evidence-validated. The information from the NCII would fit nicely into the evidence portion of a Hexagon Tool Review.
Evidence for ESSA (Johns Hopkins University) - E4E
The E4E site provides reviews of curricula and interventions addressing reading, math, social-emotional, and attendance. Science and writing are “coming soon” according to the site. Filters allow narrowing down to small groups and examining programs with strong evidence to support use.
Again, this is not an exhaustive list, and possibly, I pointed out the obvious and well-known sites.
But, hopefully, there was something new in here or a reminder to revisit a site that had been useful to you in the past. If you have sites or resources that are not listed and you find helpful, please send them my way!
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