Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a framework that helps schools provide academic and behavioral support to students. The goal of MTSS is to help all students achieve their academic and social-emotional potential.
Tiered Interventions go by many names such as:
Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Interventions
All of these names refer to a system of supports put into place for your student when the school feels that the student is at risk of falling behind. The areas covered by interventions range from academics (reading, written expression, math), to social/emotional/behavioral concerns.
Your child’s instructional team is made up of staff who are involved with your student, for example teachers, principal, or a school counselor. This team might see some indicators such as poor test or assignment grades, behavioral issues, etc. that point toward a need for the team to put some interventions in place.
Interventions can look differently depending on where the team sees a students needs. For example, if a teacher sees some issues with a student’s reading level, they might suggest interventions such as extra reading instruction or, a break-out math group to reinforce math facts if there is a concern with a student’s math level. Behavior interventions are also included in the tiered system and may be utilized if the team feels that a child needs to increase their functional skills at school.
Although the action within the interventions are specific to a student’s needs, any intervention should begin with the minimal disruption possible, Tier I (1). This could possibly look like a smaller break-out group within the general education classroom. If it is found that the child needs more support, they might be moved to a Tier II (2) situation where they could be pulled out of the classroom with a small group for a short time a couple of times per week. Further intervention would be Tier III (3) for increased supports including more frequent pull-outs for increased amounts of time.
While in tiered supports the team is also responsible for reporting the child’s progress every few weeks in order to determine if the student is caught up to peers, or if they need continued or increased Tiered supports.
You, as parent, should be receiving these progress reports.
If a student is in Tier III and still unable to catch up to peers, the instructional team may bring up the consideration evaluating your student for eligibility in special education. However, if at any point before or during the tiered process, the parent feels that the student requires special education support, they have the right to request special education evaluation. A Team is not required to complete tiered interventions in order to be eligible for special education.
You should be able to find information on MTSS within your school district:
If you are struggling to locate information online, you can ask your school or district for more information.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me. I would be happy to discuss your child’s situation with you.
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