Definition

MTSS is considered a preventative approach that provides early identification of

potential academic difficulties so that immediate support can 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 at-risk through universal screening

• Administering diagnostic testing to pinpoint area of at-risk students’ needs

• Setting strategic “S.M.A.R.T.” goals to define a plan to fill in the gaps and raise at-risk students individual achievement

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

• Monitoring individual student progress strategically to make results-based academic and/or Social / Emotional decisions

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

The instructional approaches used within the general education setting should result in academic and/or Social/Emotional progress for the majority of the students. Struggling students are identified using data-based student progress monitoring and provided intensive instruction. The use of scientifically validated curricula and teaching methods expected in an MTSS model leads to data-based school improvement.

Benefits of MTSS

MTSS holds the promise of ensuring that all children have access to high quality instruction and that struggling 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 Texas 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.