ESSA Tiers of Evidence
ESSA Tiers of Evidence: Defining the Research Basis for School Solutions
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tiers of Evidence are important because they help schools, districts, and states identify which programs and practices are effective for their students. The tiers also help parents and caregivers understand the quality of educational programs and advocate for effective interventions. ESSA, is the national education law that replaced No Child Left Behind, and is focused on state and district decision-making. The law encourages state and local education agencies to utilize the school improvement cycle, moving from identifying needs to choosing and implementing interventions to examining their outcomes. Four “tiers” of evidence have been established as a common reference point to aid leaders in choosing research-backed interventions.
Here are some reasons why the ESSA Tiers of Evidence are important:
Quality assurance: The tiers help parents and caregivers understand the quality of educational programs. Programs that meet higher tiers of evidence have been shown to be effective.
Advocacy: Parents and caregivers can use their knowledge of the tiers to advocate for effective interventions in their child's school.
Continuous improvement: Tier 4 allows districts to build evidence on locally designed interventions. This information can help districts adjust interventions to better meet the needs of their students.
Evidence-based decision making: The tiers provide a framework for decision making about which programs and practices to implement.
Student outcomes: When implemented well, evidence-based provisions can improve student outcomes and increase the return on education investments.
The ESSA Tiers of Evidence are based on the relative strength of the research design that went into the study, rather than the magnitude of the program's effect on student outcomes. Learn more about each tier and resources to help you provide the efficacy of your solution.