The First 100 Days of MTSS Guide
Listen to an Overview of MTSS – A MTSS Discussion
What is MTSS?
MTSS is a proactive, data-driven framework that provides a continuum of support for all students, addressing their academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs. It’s “a multi-tiered support foundation that wraps around a school’s entire student body.” (Branching Minds MTSS Flowchart). Unlike traditional models that react to failure, MTSS emphasizes early identification and intervention.
Core Components of MTSS:
- Robust Core Curriculum & Differentiated Instruction: This forms the foundation (Tier 1) of MTSS. At least 80% of students should meet benchmark goals with core instruction alone. (Branching Minds MTSS Flowchart). Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
- Universal Screening: Conducted three times a year to identify students’ strengths and areas needing support. This data informs the provision of appropriate interventions.
- Tiered Interventions: Supports are organized into three tiers:
- Tier 1: Whole-class differentiated instruction provided to all students.
- Tier 2: Targeted small group instruction provided to students needing additional support.
- Tier 3: Intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant needs.
- Progress Monitoring: Regularly assess student progress, typically weekly or bi-weekly, to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and make necessary adjustments.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: MTSS relies heavily on data to inform every aspect of the framework, from identifying students needing support to evaluating program effectiveness.
- Collaboration and Communication: Strong partnerships among educators, administrators, families, and students are essential.
- Leadership & Infrastructure: Strong leadership is crucial for driving MTSS implementation and ensuring adequate resources are allocated (MTSS Buy-in and Mobilization Guide).
Implementing MTSS:
- Planning: Begin with a needs assessment, establish a clear vision for MTSS, identify resources, develop an implementation plan, select assessments and evidence-based interventions, and provide professional development (Implementation | MTSS Center).
- Implementation: Put plans into action, monitor fidelity of implementation, identify and address barriers, and provide ongoing professional learning for staff.
- Sustain and Expand: Continuously improve the MTSS framework based on data analysis, stakeholder feedback, and evolving student needs (Implementation | MTSS Center).
Key Considerations for Successful Implementation:
- Buy-In: Secure buy-in from all stakeholders, emphasizing the “why” behind MTSS and its potential to improve outcomes for all students.
- Change Management: Transitioning to MTSS requires a thoughtful approach to change management, including clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing support (MTSS Buy-in and Mobilization Guide).
- MTSS Handbook: Develop an MTSS handbook to outline expectations, protocols, and resources for all stakeholders (MTSS Buy-in and Mobilization Guide).
- Teamwork: Establish strong MTSS teams at both the school and district levels, comprising key stakeholders who collaborate to support students (MTSS Buy-in and Mobilization Guide).
- Professional Development: Provide ongoing professional development to equip staff with the knowledge and skills needed to implement MTSS effectively.
- Resources: Allocate necessary resources, including valid assessments, evidence-based interventions, and technology solutions (The First 100 Days of MTSS Guide).
Benefits of MTSS:
- Improved Student Outcomes: MTSS helps ensure that all students have access to the support they need to succeed academically, behaviorally, and socially-emotionally.
- Proactive Approach: By identifying and addressing student needs early on, MTSS helps prevent more serious challenges from arising.
- Data-Driven Culture: MTSS fosters a data-driven culture in schools, enabling educators to make informed decisions based on evidence.
- Equitable Access: The tiered framework of MTSS helps ensure that all students have equitable access to support.
MTSS and School Climate:
- MTSS contributes to a positive school climate by:
- Fostering strong relationships among staff and students.
- Creating a supportive environment that values individual needs.
- Providing clear expectations and consistent consequences (What is MTSS? – A Multi-Tiered System of Supports).
Conclusion:
Implementing MTSS is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning, collaboration, and ongoing refinement. However, the potential benefits for students, educators, and schools are substantial. By embracing a data-driven, proactive approach to student support, MTSS can help create a more equitable and effective learning environment for all.
Implementation: This section introduces the three phases of MTSS implementation: Plan for Success, Implement, and Sustain and Expand. It emphasizes the importance of ongoing planning, continuous improvement, and stakeholder engagement.
Phase 1: Plan for Success: Focuses on building the infrastructure for MTSS, including needs assessments, vision development, resource inventory, and selection of assessments and interventions.
Phase 2: Implement: Details the initial implementation of MTSS processes, highlighting the need for fidelity monitoring, barrier identification, and ongoing professional development.
Phase 3: Sustain and Expand: Emphasizes continuous improvement, infrastructure strengthening, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement to sustain and refine MTSS implementation.
The First 100 Days of MTSS Guide
Preparing for a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS): Introduces the guide’s purpose—to provide a 100-day framework for implementing MTSS—emphasizing the need for planning, resource allocation, and data analysis.
Preparing To Start: Setting Your MTSS Framework: Outlines the foundational elements for successful MTSS implementation.
Building Your MTSS Teams: Provides a table outlining the roles and responsibilities of core MTSS team members.
Allocate Your Resources to Support MTSS: Lists key resources required for effective MTSS, including assessments, interventions, professional development, and infrastructure adaptations.
Create a Clear Vision and Understanding of MTSS: Emphasizes the importance of a shared vision for MTSS, suggesting the use of change management models and outlining the content of a comprehensive MTSS handbook.
Resources for Setting Your MTSS Framework: Lists and summarizes additional resources from Branching Minds that support MTSS framework development.
The First 100 Days of MTSS Calendar: Divides the first 100 days into three phases, outlining key activities and providing relevant resources for each.
- Day 1 to Day 30: Identifying Challenges: Focuses on establishing communication channels, collecting initial data through universal screening, and monitoring MTSS fidelity.
- Day 30 to Day 60: Gathering Data and Measuring Progress: Emphasizes data analysis, communication of the MTSS vision, and proactive planning based on data trends.
- Day 60 to Day 90: Determining Impact and Planning Ahead: Focuses on mid-year data review, potential retraining needs, and adjustments to the MTSS plan for the remainder of the year.
- 100 Days and Beyond: Reiterates that MTSS is an ongoing cycle of problem-solving and continuous improvement, highlighting the importance of ongoing data analysis, communication, and fidelity checks.
MTSS Intervention Process Flowchart: A visual representation of the MTSS process, starting with universal screening and moving through tiered interventions based on student response to instruction. This section also details the decision-making process at each tier.
MTSS Buy-In and Mobilization Guide
What is MTSS? Defines MTSS as a data-driven, whole-school framework that utilizes universal screening, tiered interventions, and collaborative problem-solving to address both academic and non-academic student needs.
What does MTSS look like everyday in school? Provides a visual representation of the three tiers of MTSS, illustrating the increasing intensity of support from Tier 1 (whole class instruction) to Tier 3 (intensive, individualized intervention).
Developing a deep understanding of core instruction, differentiation, and intervention: Highlights the importance of shared understanding of key MTSS terms, providing definitions for “core instruction,” “differentiation,” and “intervention.”
Leadership in schools implementing MTSS: Underscores the crucial role of strong leadership in driving MTSS implementation, emphasizing the need for clear communication, professional development, and resource allocation.
Setting the stage-managing the change management process: Offers tips for successfully managing the transition to MTSS, including finding exemplars, communicating policy changes, and addressing resistance to change.
Creating an MTSS handbook: Suggests developing a comprehensive handbook to outline MTSS processes, protocols, and expectations, ensuring consistency and providing a reference point for staff.
Universal screening students: Highlights the importance of utilizing efficient and reliable universal screeners to identify student needs and monitor progress, differentiating between elementary and secondary approaches.
Determining if current core instruction is equitably meeting your student’s needs: Provides questions for schools to reflect on the effectiveness and fidelity of their core instruction, suggesting strategies for analysis and improvement.
Providing robust intervention and progress monitoring: Outlines the essential elements of successful intervention, including targeted, research-based strategies, clear documentation, and frequent progress monitoring.
Creating an MTSS team: Details the recommended composition of an MTSS team, outlining the roles and responsibilities of administrative representatives, coordinators, grade/content representatives, specialists, and classroom teachers.
MTSS meetings and eliminating unnecessary meetings: Proposes streamlining meetings by focusing on three key types: School Level MTSS Meetings, Grade/Content Team MTSS Meetings, and Individual Problem-Solving Meetings, each with specific goals and frequencies.
Check in with staff often!: Emphasizes the importance of ongoing communication and feedback throughout the MTSS implementation process to ensure understanding, address concerns, and maintain momentum.
Citations: Provides a list of sources referenced throughout the guide.
About the Branching Minds solution: Briefly introduces the Branching Minds MTSS platform and its features.
About the Author: Provides a short biography of Deanne Rotfeld Levy, the guide’s author.
