How to read the FIA

The FIA contains 22 improvement items within each of the 5 Domains and 10 features of the CA MTSS Framework. These improvement items will help your LEA/District Team determine areas of strength already occurring at the school-site level and which areas need improvement. (see page 2 of FIA).

The FIA assessment lists each improvement area along the top left corner of each page.  The image below shows the improvement area 1.1 Valued Leadership.

Under the title lies a description of the improvement item in order to guide a site level as they determine their current level of implementation for that particular improvement area. For improvement area 1.1 Valued Leadership, the description indicates the importance of a School Leadership Team utilizing data in an ongoing cycle to improve teaching and learning.

Under each improvement area lies a list of components that describe the criteria for each improvement area. Your team will poll for agreement to determine which, if any, components are in place at your school site.

Once your School Leadership Team determines the components currently in place, the column will help your team determine which Stage of Implementation your school site is currently in. The first indicator, Laying the Foundation, describes a school site beginning its transformational journey. It is currently building a leadership team or has one that meets infrequently and is just beginning to understand its role and importance. The desired indicator, Sustaining School-wide Implementation, describes a leadership team that meets regularly, reviews data to monitor school progress, and understands its role in leading the school in continuous improvement efforts.  

The next column provides an area for your team to take notes and provide details around the reasons members evaluated each component. These notes will be valuable data sources as your team takes the FIA again and begins to move along the stages of implementation.

 

Finally, the bottom right hand corner lists a series of questions that will help guide your team as you discuss each component and determine your school site's current stage of implementation.