The Intervention Pulse: Midwest Edition

Actionable MTSS strategies, state policy updates, and evidence-based literacy and math solutions for educators across IL, OH, IN, WI, MN, IA, MO, SD, NE, and KS.

Regional Focus: How Midwest States Are Transforming MTSS

Across the Midwest, department of education officials are shifting away from certain models in favor of structured, proactive Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

State Spotlight: Ohio’s Legislative Focus on Structured Intervention

Under Ohio HB 33, state leaders have established clear standards for evidence-based instruction across both literacy and mathematics:

• Vetted Intervention Curricula: Mandating that Tier 2 and Tier 3 programs align directly with proven research and science of reading/math principles.
• Universal Diagnostic Screening: Catching skill deficits early in the school year before learning gaps compound in later grades.
• Job-Embedded Professional Development: Equipping interventionists and classroom teachers with explicit, systematic instructional routines.

Recommended Read: Check out this EDVIEW360 piece, Targeting Intervention: Why More “Core” Isn’t the Answer, by literacy coach Hannah Irion-Frake. She breaks down why struggling readers in MTSS Tiers 2 and 3 need diagnostic, skill-specific intervention programs rather than simply extra doses of the Tier 1 core curriculum. 

Download Your Free Reading Intervention Checklist

Supporting students who struggle with learning to read can be a challenge. It’s critical to ensure your research-based intervention is truly designed to meet their needs.

Not all reading interventions are created equally. If you want to ensure your tier-group instruction is truly evidence-based, we highly recommend this resource from literacy expert Dr. Stephanie Stollar. Her “Right Intervention” checklist is a simple but powerful tool designed to help educators evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and how to give every student exactly what they need to succeed.

Download our free Reading Intervention Checklist by Dr. Stephanie Stollar to evaluate your current programs and ensure you’ve considered all aspects of program selection.

👉 Download the Free Reading Intervention Checklist (PDF) →

Key Midwest Trends in Reading and Math

• Multisensory and Explicit Routines: A regional shift toward direct, explicit instruction that incorporates auditory, visual, and kinesthetic practice.
• Targeted Diagnostic Grouping: Moving away from generalized study halls toward flexible, small-group instruction targeted at precise skill gaps.
• Secondary Acceleration: Recognizing intervention isn’t just for K–3—older elementary and middle school students need targeted decoding and prealgebraic reasoning support.

Looking to learn about what can be done to overcome the reading gap? Listen to this EDVIEW360 podcast episode with Michelle Elia, assistant professor at Marietta College, nationally recognized literacy professional development provider and advocate for adolescent literacy. She will discuss key components of MTSS at the secondary level and will share ways teachers can plan for successful literacy interventions.