MTSS Flashcards
What does MTSS stand for?
Multi-tiered systems of support.
What does MTSS do?
- MTSS supports an early intervening, prevention-to-intervention framework.
- Specialized instructional support personnel (SISPs) in many disciplines are developing service delivery models that promote services to students across a continuum of need.
- The framework establishes specific actions that educators, special educators, and SISPs can take to
support students. - “Early Intervening Services” – providing assistance to students, including modifying the classroom environment or instructional practices to see if changes will result in improved performance.
- Funding supported through general education rather than special education. Portion of IDEA funds allocated for supplemental and teacher training.
- General education teachers collaborate closely with special educators, including SLPs
Key Concepts of MTSS
- Focuses on academic as well as social, emotional, and behavior development from early childhood to graduation
- Provides multiple levels of support for all learners (struggling as well as advanced)
- Focuses on school improvement by assuring that practices, policies, and programs are aligned
throughout the school organization - Provides support for teachers in delivering instruction and utilizing curriculum
- Requires a focus on collaboration between general education, special education, and specialized instructional support personnel (including SLPs)
- Stresses using data to guide instruction
- Stresses prevention, but also focuses on intervention
- Aligns professional development across the school
- Requires teachers, administrators, district personnel, and student support specialists to change the way
they have traditionally practiced and embrace a collaborative culture.
How many tiers are in the MTSS framework?
3
Tier 1
Universal Intervention and Research-Based Core Instruction
Instructional activities are applicable to the whole general education classroom. It is a preventative,
proactive approach. SLPs can provide suggestions for modifying classroom environment to promote
better communication and general strategies for improving speech and language skills.
Tier 2
Targeted Intervention
Students considered at-risk and should benefit from supplemental services and additional
support to successfully access the curriculum.
Activities designed for small groups within the
classroom setting. Instruction is differentiated and students supported with alternative materials
for remediation and enrichment.
Tier 3
Intensive Intervention
Students not making progress enrolled in special education classes. SLPs involved in problem-
solving process and take steps to assess eligibility for specific services such as speech-language
intervention.
Response-to-Intervention (RTI)
RtI refers to the practice of providing effective
instruction and intervention across three tiers to all students. It is an integral part of MTSS but MTSS is the primary framework that RtI fits within. RtI was first started to help identify young learners who were struggling to learn to read and to reduce the number of students being referred to special education. It is a prevention and early
prereferral education intervention model,
designed to prevent students from failing. RtI is considered a “general education” rather than a
“special education” model.
What does RTI do?
- Uses a problem-solving methodology and research based,
scientifically validated intervention to support students prior to
formal assessments for special education eligibility. - Assessments include screening, diagnostics to identify interventions
and progress monitoring - Educational decisions guided by data
- Assessments are used for 3 purposes
1. Screening to identify which children have a problem that
need further assessment
2. Diagnosis to identify what interventions specific students
need
3. Monitoring progress to identify if the intervention and
instructions methods are working
