Ci3T and Fort Mill Schools
What is Ci3T?
It is a Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-Tiered Model of Prevention, a model of prevention to address all students’ academic, behavioral, and social needs.
Why Ci3T?
South Carolina Act 213 directs districts to implement a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) beginning in the 2019–20 school year. MTSS addresses the needs of of the whole child – academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally – through a framework of increasing supports in the areas of academics, social emotional learning and behavior. Read more about that law and the South Carolina Department of Education guidance here.
In Fort Mill, that work began even before Act 213. Much of the work has been done at the elementary level. To expand MTSS across all schools - elementary, middle and high - it became apparent that a consistent framework that was adaptable to the three levels was needed. Ci3T has decades of research and evidence to support its effectiveness. It is an effective and efficient way to build a multi-tiered system of support.
The district needed to address common misunderstandings related to MTSS. For example, when thinking of MTSS, many often only look at the interventions taking place in Tiers 2 and 3. In contrast, the Ci3T starts and spends the most time on Tier 1 in academic, social-emotional and behavioral domains before looking at the intervention options for students.
This process helps put on paper how we “do school.” It provides clarity for everyone--staff, students and families--about what is available for students at our schools. By stating what is done in a consistent format across all the schools, the non-negotiables for the district’s schools are established and communicated, while still providing the flexibility to build plans that are designed for and by each school's staff.
This work allows the district to meet the goals of its strategic plan to improve outcomes for students, close achievement gaps, and meet the needs of students outlined in the Profile of a South Carolina Graduate.