Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

Summary

The script discusses Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in education, emphasizing a holistic approach to student needs. It includes practices like RTI, positive behavior supports, and universal design for learning. The focus is on collaboration between parents, teachers, and professionals to provide targeted interventions at three levels, ensuring every child receives necessary support without leading to special education. MTSS aims to improve student achievement, reduce referrals, and enhance instructional efficiency through proactive and preventative strategies.

Takeaways

• 🏫 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is an inclusive educational framework that encompasses various practices like RTI, PBIS, UDL, and social-emotional curriculum.
• 🤝 MTSS requires collaboration among educators, parents, and students to identify and meet the diverse needs of students effectively.
• 👪 Parents play a crucial role in MTSS as they know their children best and contribute to the understanding of their needs.
• 👩‍🏫 Classroom teachers are key in MTSS, working directly with students and providing insights into their academic and behavioral needs.
• 🔍 The approach of MTSS is to consider the 'whole child,' addressing both academic and social-emotional needs for a comprehensive support system.
• 📚 Tier one of MTSS provides universal supports with evidence-based curriculum and strong instructional practices for all students.
• 🔢 Tiers two and three offer additional targeted supports for students with specific skill deficits, with the level of intervention varying from child to child.
• 🤔 MTSS involves a fluid and dynamic process of identifying student needs and adjusting instructional minutes to provide appropriate support.
• 👥 There is a support system behind the scenes with various teams across the district working together to brainstorm and collaborate on student support.
• 🚫 MTSS is not a pathway to special education; it aims to be preventative and proactive in addressing student needs without the necessity of failure.
• 📉 Successful implementation of MTSS leads to increased student achievement, reduced referrals to special education, and lowered discipline and dropout rates.
• 🛠️ It takes a coordinated team of professionals, resources, curriculum, and tools to support teachers in providing targeted interventions for students.

Q & A

What does MTSS stand for and what does it encompass in education?

MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. It encompasses various practices in education such as response to intervention (RTI), positive behavior intervention supports, universal design for learning, and social emotional curriculum.

How does MTSS involve parents in the educational process?

MTSS involves parents by recognizing that they know their children best and by collaborating with them to brainstorm what the student needs and how to meet those needs, as well as gathering pertinent information to ensure those needs are met.

What is the role of classroom teachers in the MTSS framework?

Classroom teachers are on the front lines working with the students every day. They play a crucial role in collaboration to determine the student's needs and in implementing the appropriate interventions within the MTSS framework.

How does MTSS approach the concept of 'the whole child'?

MTSS looks at the whole child by not only focusing on academic needs but also considering the student's social-emotional needs and behavioral challenges, recognizing that unmet needs in these areas can impact a student's readiness to learn.

What are the three tiers of support in MTSS and what do they provide?

The three tiers of MTSS are: Tier one, which provides universal supports and strong evidence-based curriculum for all students; Tier two, which offers additional targeted instructional minutes for students with specific skill deficits; and Tier three, which provides more intensive support for students requiring even more assistance.

Why is collaboration important in the implementation of MTSS?

Collaboration is important in MTSS to brainstorm and gather all relevant information, ensuring that the student's needs are identified and met effectively. It involves various teams and professionals working together to diagnose, prescribe, and implement appropriate interventions.

How does MTSS differ from the traditional RTI model that focused mainly on academics?

MTSS differs from the traditional RTI model by incorporating a more holistic approach that addresses not only academic needs but also social-emotional and behavioral needs, recognizing the impact of these areas on a student's ability to learn.

What are the benefits of implementing MTSS in schools?

Implementing MTSS can lead to increased student achievement, more efficient use of instructional time, reduced referrals to special education and discipline, and lower dropout rates, as it targets supports to meet the specific needs of students.

Is MTSS a pathway to special education for students who struggle?

No, MTSS is not a pathway to special education. It is designed to be preventative and proactive, ensuring that students receive the support they need without having to fail first.

How does MTSS ensure that all students receive the support they need?

MTSS ensures support for all students by providing a tiered system of interventions that can be adjusted based on individual needs. It involves collaboration among various teams and professionals to diagnose and provide targeted supports.

What kind of professional team is involved in supporting teachers under the MTSS framework?

A team of professionals, including but not limited to classroom teachers, special education specialists, counselors, and administrators, work together to support teachers in implementing MTSS and providing the necessary resources, curriculum, and tools.