PictureTeachers and Teams, click here to follow the MTSS Framework.

MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT (MTSS)

What is MTSS?  an overview
A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a framework of instructional design aimed to support all students in making progress toward and exceeding mastery of grade-level content standards.

In an MTSS framework, instructional supports are differentiated by levels to accelerate growth both for students who lag behind their peers, as well as those who exceed grade-level expectations. A school-wide, multi-level instructional system for preventing school failure includes screening, progress monitoring, and data-based decision making for instruction and movement within the multi-level system. (MN Department of Education, 2015)

What does that really mean? It means that we are building a system that ensures students receive the help they need when they need it: one system of multiple supports – in academics and behavior.

For more detailed information.
CORE INSTRUCTION
​Effective core instructions is characterized by six key elements.
  1. Differentiation:  The teacher uses multiple instructional materials, activities, strategies, and assessment techniques to meet students’ needs and to maximize learning for all students.
  2. Variety:  The teacher implements a variety of classroom techniques and strategies that enhance student motivation and decrease discipline problems.
  3. Cognitive challenge:  The teacher provides in-depth explanations of academic content and covers higher-order concepts and skills thoroughly.
  4. Student engagement:  The teacher is supportive and persistent in keeping students on task and encourages them to actively integrate new information with prior learning.
  5. Recognizing patterns of student learning and adjusting:  The teacher recognizes the schema or pattern in student learning, makes inferences about the situation (such as identifying the student’s difficulties), and promptly adjusts the materials, learning activities, and assessment techniques to maximize student learning.
  6. Questioning:  The teacher uses multiples levels of questioning (particularly higher cognitive levels) to stimulate student thinking and monitor student learning. (MDE, 2016)
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MTSS: Let's start with why.
By Jillyne Raymond

WHY, oh why?
Some may prefer to ask why, oh why, won’t RtI or MTSS (or whatever new acronym comes next ) go away? Instead, let’s start with the why behind this systematic work. We need to understand why we are doing something. The why is at the core.

WHY implement a MTSS?
1. All students deserve to achieve in order to become the very best they can.
2. We need to give our students the help they need, when they need it.
3. Problem solving takes a team and it’s not easy; the system needs to support these efforts.

WHAT is MTSS?
MTSS stands for a Multi-Tiered System of Support, which provides a continuum of effective supports aligned to all students’ needs for achieving high expectations. Achievement is key. Tiered interventions can help us go beyond a year’s worth of growth.

excerpt from The Progress (GCED newsletter), October 27, 2015
MTSS Questions?

Contact Jillynne Raymond,
Assistant Director of System Development at jraymond@gced.k12.mn.us

Support for Educators ​Note: The school psych cohort, representing all districts, have established this process. 
Multi-Tiered Supports​
Schoolwide Problem Solving