Multi-Tiered System of Supports

A Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a framework to provide all students with the best opportunities to succeed in school. MTSS is defined as “the practice of providing high quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction or goals, and applying child response data to important educational decisions (Batsche et al, 2005).”

MTSS has three levels, or tiers, of instruction and support, all aimed at giving teachers a streamlined way to provide the best instruction to all students.

Tier I (All Students) – provides Quality Core Instruction that consists of scientific research based programs and frameworks that meet the academic and behavior needs of all students.    Tier II (Some Students) – includes Tier 1 instruction as well as additional more focused supports and targeted interventions for students needing more help. Extra instruction and support often are provided to these children in small groups.   Tier III (Few Students) – is for children who need intense support in order to succeed. Extra academic and behavioral instruction and support are provided, and adjusted to the students response to Quality Core Instruction and previous interventions. This tier is often in even smaller groups or one-on-one.

Guiding Documents

As a part of the Statewide System of Support, State Support Teams work closely with the Ohio Department of Education to provide training, resources, and technical assistance to schools and districts as they strive to ensure that each child has access to a high-quality education. The documents, policies, and laws shared here provide the foundation to this work.

Links:

• Position Statement on Multitiered System of Support Framework in Early Childhood
• Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement
• Third Grade Reading Guarantee

Links

• Ohio Leadership Advisory Council (OLAC) – Multi-tiered system of supports
• Quick Guide for Multi-Tiered System of Supports: The Classroom
• 5 Strategies for Implementing MTSS at the Secondary Level – Written by Kate Pechacek
• A Family Guide to Math in a Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) – Developed by the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center

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