Fidelity instruments are used to assess the quality of implementation of a school’s programs and practices. They can be used to assess the extent to which programs are being implemented as intended and the impact of implementation on student outcomes.

Fidelity instruments can be used to assess implementation at the individual, classroom, school, or district level. They can be used to assess the implementation of a single program or practice, or to assess the implementation of a comprehensive system of support.

The SWIFT-Fidelity Integrity Assessment (SWIFT-FIA) is a self-assessment tool that schools can use as a component of the Tier 1 needs assessment as a way to assess a site’s status in relation to the SWIFT domains and features.

The SWIFT-FIA guides teams through conversations related to SWIFT domains and features, allowing them to score themselves on priorities for improvement and implementation status. To complete the SWIFT-FIA, the school leadership team reviews each descriptive statement and assesses its current status as “Laying the Foundation,” “Installing,” “Implementing,” or “Sustaining and Scaling Up.” The first administration of the SWIFT-FIA should take 60 to 90 minutes, with subsequent progress monitoring taking at least 30 to 45 minutes. As teams become more experienced with the SWIFT-FIA, they can expect to become more efficient and focus on changes resulting from implementation efforts.