Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

What is MTSS?

The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is an evidence-based framework for structuring the collaborative efforts of school professionals to provide an equitable education for all students with a focus on the whole child. Additionally, the MTSS framework aims to identify struggling learners early and intervene quickly with academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports to improve student outcomes and to create a safe and supportive learning environment.

Tier 1 encompasses all students in a classroom and focuses on research-based high-quality classroom instruction and behavioral supports to help students reach proficiency.

Tier 2 encompasses five-10% of the student population and involves targeted small-group prevention or remediation interventions for students whose academic performance or behavior falls behind the norm for proficiency.

Tier 3 encompasses one to five percent of the student population and requires a focus on intensive, individualized interventions for students who have an insufficient response to evidenced-based interventions in the first two tiers.

Mississippi’s Vision for MTSS

In Mississippi, districts and schools are encouraged to utilize the cohesive framework, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), to align current resources and initiatives to meet ALL students’ academic and behavioral needs. Mississippi’s model for MTSS consists of six essential components:

• Shared Leadership
• Family, School, & Community Partnerships
• Data-Based Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
• Layered Continuum of Supports (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3)
• Evidence-Based Instruction, Intervention, & Assessment
• Universal Screening & Progress Monitoring

OSD’s Vision for MTSS

Some students struggle with academics. Others struggle with behavioral challenges. Still others struggle with both. Instead of “waiting for failure”, the Oxford School District takes a proactive approach to identify students who need additional support. Early assessment and intervention for these students can help them catch up with their peers sooner.

The Department of Student Services uses the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework to provide targeted support for struggling students. MTSS grew out of the integration of two other intervention-based frameworks: Response to Intervention (RtI) and PBIS.

As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) updated by Congress in 2004, the Response to Intervention model of assessment originally sought to identify students who would benefit from more intensive support. From these beginnings as a tool to help improve educational outcomes for students in special education, MTSS has grown to encompass all students at every level. The integrated instruction model of MTSS uses collected data to assess student needs and provide them with interventions in appropriate tiers.

The key components of MTSS include:

• Universal screening of all students early in the school year
• Tiers of interventions that can be amplified in response to levels of need
• Ongoing data collection and continual assessment
• Schoolwide approach to expectations and supports
• Parent involvement

Supporting Your Student

Parents play a critical role in supporting what their children are learning in school. Research shows that the more parents are involved in student learning, the higher the student achievement. Here are a few ways you can support your child and what they are doing in their school:

• Make reading an everyday habit at home
• Share information that may impact your child's success at school
• Communicate with your child's teacher
• Monitor homework assignments, even at higher grade levels
• Designate a quiet place and time for homework
• Ask for regular monitoring reports
• Share your child's successes
• Learn more about the curriculum and interventions being used in your child's school
• Attend parent/teacher conferences and other school meetings about your child

Questions Parents Can Ask

• What curriculum is being taught in my child’s classroom?
• What targeted interventions is my child’s school using if he/she struggles in the classroom?
• How many weeks does my child’s school collect data and monitor progress?
• How will I be informed of the progress my child is making?
• What happens if an intervention is not working?
• What social-emotional learning does my child’s school teach to all students?
• What kind of behavior interventions are used if my child is struggling?
• Who is the problem-solving team lead in my child’s school?

Additional Resources

• MDE Parent Success Guides
• Access for ALL Guide

Who to Contact

All intervention plans are developed and monitored by the intervention coordinators (academic) and behavior coaches (behavior) as a result of team decisions. If you have questions about your child’s Tier status or progress, please contact the following people at your child’s school.