Definition

MTSS is considered a proactive approach that provides early identification of students' strengths and needs so that timely and appropriate support may be offered to meet the needs of ALL individual students. Academic and Social/Emotional needs of students can be met through a variety of services containing the following key elements:

• Identifying students meeting criteria for differentiated academic services through universal academic "screening" assessments

• Administering diagnostic testing to pinpoint areas of students' academic strengths and needs

• Setting strategic “S.M.A.R.T.” goals to define a plan to maximize student achievement and academic growth

• Administering high-yield instruction and scientific research-based tiered interventions and/or extensions aligned with individual student need

• Monitoring individual student progress strategically to make results-based decisions

• Applying individual students' response data to important educational decisions (such as those regarding placement, instructors, curriculum, and instructional goals and methodologies)

The instructional approaches used within the MTSS setting should result in appropriate growth and progress for the majority of the students. The use of scientifically-validated curricula and teaching methods expected in an MTSS model leads to data-based student, school and district improvement.

Benefits of MTSS

MTSS holds the promise of ensuring that all children have access to high-quality instructional services and that all exceptional learners, including those with learning disabilities (LD), are identified, supported, and served early and effectively. Driven and documented by reliable data, the implementation of MTSS in schools can result in the following:

• More effective instruction

• Increased student achievement

• More appropriate, early identification of potential learning or other disabilities

• Increased professional collaboration

• Overall school improvement