Measure FIRST (Fidelity of Implementation in Reading Skills Teaching) supports data-based decision-making by providing school administrators and instructional coaches a way to measure fidelity of intervention.
Measure FIRST includes a free eLearning module on fidelity, helping educators develop the knowledge and skills needed to create fidelity checklists, monitor fidelity in classrooms, and analyze the fidelity data to guide instructional decisions.
Educators can access a free Measure FIRST application, allowing them to create custom fidelity checklists to monitor instruction. For a preview of the fidelity monitoring tools available through the Measure FIRST, check out MOTR-Cycle.
What Is Fidelity and Why Does It Matter?
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), a school-wide framework designed to support student learning outcomes, depends upon implementation of high-quality instructional materials with fidelity. Fidelity refers to the extent to which an intervention is implemented as intended (Gillespie Rouse, 2024). Measuring fidelity involves collecting data around how an intervention, instructional practice, or curriculum is implemented. Paired with student performance data, fidelity data can shed light on whether a curriculum, instructional practice, or intervention is meeting the needs of the students and supporting their learning goals.
Start Here
Ready to get started? To make the most of the Measure FIRST, it is highly recommended that new users complete the Foundations of Measuring Fidelity eLearning module before using the application.
What's Next?
After you’ve completed the Foundations of Measuring Fidelity eLearning module and familiarized yourself with the Measure FIRST tool, it’s time to dive into some of our instructional observation forms for fidelity monitoring, including (1) opportunities to respond and (2) explicit instruction.
Opportunities to Respond
Opportunities to respond (OTRs) are a key part of explicit instruction that has been shown to improve the instructional performance of a diverse range of students.
MOTR-Cycle (Measuring Opportunities to Respond–Cycle of Coaching and Feedback) is a free online tool that classroom observers can use to keep track of the number and modality of OTRs in instruction.
Explicit Instruction
Explicit instruction is a collection of research-supported instructional practices that provide needed supports for successful learning. Explicit instruction has been linked to improved outcomes across multiple academic areas, including reading and writing.
Coming December 16, 2025, the Explicit Instruction: Fidelity of Implementation eLearning module will help educators identify, implement, and monitor explicit instruction practices. Additionally, the Explicit Instruction Observation Rubric, accessible through the Measure FIRST application, will help instructional coaches and other school personnel identify key components of explicit instruction and provide targeted feedback and coaching to teachers.
Related Blog Posts
Check out the following blog posts to learn more about fidelity of intervention!
Fidelity in School Settings: How It Works and Why It Matters
Measuring fidelity of implementation can help educators understand if an intervention is working as intended.
How Does Fidelity of Implementation Relate to Student Reading Outcomes?
We summarize research on the relationship between fidelity of implementation and student reading outcomes.
A Necessary Balancing Act—Fidelity and Contextual Fit
Fidelity and contextual fit are complementary considerations in evidence-based literacy instruction. This post introduces some strategies for improving intervention feasibility without sacrificing fidelity.
Measuring Opportunities to Respond: A MOTR of Highly Interactive Literacy Instruction
Providing students with ample opportunities to respond throughout a lesson can improve their instructional performance.
Opportunities to Respond: Implementing a Cycle of Planning, Measuring, and Coaching
Educators can implement an OTR intervention through a cycle of planning, measuring, and coaching.
Get to Know Explicit Instruction
Implementing explicit instruction techniques makes lessons clear, efficient, and effective.