FAM-S

What is the NC FAM-S?

The NC FAM-S is a tool which measures school-level progress towards full implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). The purpose of administration and its resulting data is to help the School Improvement Team and district-level personnel identify and prioritize implementation steps. It contains 41 items in six domains in a rubric format.

Leadership
Building Capacity/Infrastructure for Implementation
Communication and Collaboration
Data-based Problem-solving
Three-tiered Instruction/Intervention Model
Data-Evaluation

HISTORY

Most items in the NC FAM-S were originally developed and validated in Florida as part of the Self-Assessment of MTSS (SAM). North Carolina began using the items in 2016 after a diverse group of educational professionals examined each item to determine its accuracy and validity for use in North Carolina. In 2018, stakeholders from the NC MTSS Consortium as well as a group of identified content experts from across the state again reviewed and revised the instrument to include essential features from both NC MTSS professional development and Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. This review panel included higher education professionals as well as district and school level practitioners. The revised instrument, released in 2019, provides the field with an integrated tool which assesses the breadth and depth of academic, behavior, and social-emotional supports.

Adapted from NCDPI - NC FAM - Facilitated Assessments of MTSS

RECOMMEND USE

The FAM-S is intended to be used within a facilitated administration setting which would allow the district personnel to review evidence to support the school team’s proposed score. NC DPI recommends an annual facilitated administration between April and June. The facilitated administration should be led by the district MTSS/PBIS Coordinator and/or another member of the District MTSS Team. The instrument can also be used at any time as an implementation self-report and guide for school leadership teams.

Is data from the FAM-S shared?

The IABS team provides administration and scoring resources for the FAM-S as a courtesy to district and school MTSS teams. The data from the FAM-S belongs to schools and districts. Identifiable school and district data is not shared without district permission. The IABS team uses aggregate data to share with the NC State Board of Education and for planning purposes.

FAM-S Overview

Preparing for the FAM-S

Prior to the FAM-S, each School Improvement Team member should review the FAM-S rubric and enter their responses into the FAM-S Rating Template. This template, with each team member's responses, will be the focus of the discussion during the FAM-S.

DURING the FAM-S

Each item will be reviewed, and the school team members will come to a consensus on a response for each item. The facilitator will assist the team in determining appropriate evidence for each item. The facilitator will enter each response and its supporting evidence in the FAM-S scoring system. Total scores for the facilitated administration will produce a percentage for each critical component, as well as an overall percentage.

AFTER THE FAM-S

School Improvement Teams should use the results of the FAM-S to guide school improvement and MTSS implementation. After the FAM-S, teams should:

Access FAM-S results in ECATS. Click here to view instructions on how to access the reports
Use the FAM-S to NCStar Crosswalks to make links between FAM-S results and potential goals and action steps for the School Improvement Plan
Reflect on existing structures and current practices using these tools and make adjustments, as needed:
- Resource Mapping Tool: How can we best utilize the time, personnel, and funding available on your campus?
- School Teams in MTSS: How do we structure teams in our school to accomplish the work of MTSS?
- Communication Planning Template: How can we facilitate timely, relevant communication between our teams?
Review these links to free PD available through NCDPI and other trusted partners to support MTSS implementation at the school level

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