Examining the variation of fidelity across an intervention: Implications for measuring and evaluating student learning

Fidelity of implementation is a commonly used term that is not well understood yet frequently assessed in schools today. This paper will discuss the different approaches commonly used in schools (e.g., structural, procedural, etc.) and then present them in relation to student outcomes within a seven-month intervention study with at-risk kindergarteners. Variation across different types of fidelity measures (e.g., time, quality of delivery, student engagement, etc.) will be examined over intervention time as well as in relation to student academic achievement. Implications will be provided on how practitioners should consider measuring and monitoring fidelity of implementation within their schools with a focus on doing it to improve outcomes for students.