Tier 3 instruction is designed for students who continue to struggle with reading despite receiving high-quality Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction and support. These students require intensive, individualized intervention that targets their specific skill gaps in reading.
Tier 3 support is:
- Delivered by qualified educators or specialists with training in structured literacy approaches
- More frequent and longer in duration, often involving daily one-on-one or very small group sessions
- Explicit, systematic, and cumulative, often with additional scaffolding, review, and progress monitoring
- Closely aligned with data from diagnostic assessments and screeners to ensure targeted instruction
This level of support is essential for students with significant and persistent reading difficulties, including many students with diagnosed specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in reading. The goal is to provide students with the intensive instruction they need to make accelerated progress and close the gap with their peers.
One example of Tier 3 support is Empower Reading, a structured and research-based program developed at SickKids Hospital in Toronto. Empower is designed to build decoding, comprehension, and fluency through intensive, explicit instruction..
Watch this video produced by LD@school to learn more about how to support students who require tier 3 support in reading.