The FIRST TIER in MTSS is universal supports & core instruction. Approximately 80-85% of students do well with Tier 1 universal supports & Instruction. Tier 1 Universal Supports for LAVAs students includes some of the following: 

• School Counseling Comprehensive Program - All students have the ability to self refer, request referral through staff, or see the counselor's during set office hours. Guidance Lessons are taught periodically throughout the year at all grade levels; including Suicide Prevention.

• Second Step Curriculum - LAVA uses Second Step to help all students learn various social and emotional skills including: Empathy and Communication, Bullying Prevention, Emotional Management, Problem Solving, Goal Setting, and Substance Abuse Prevention.

• Kelso's Choices Curriculum - LAVA uses Kelso's Choices to helps students learn how to solve "big" or "small" problems and manage conflict in a peaceable way.

• Capturing Kids Hearts - Is a model our school uses to improve school culture, strengthen trust between teachers and students, assist with classroom management, improves academic performance and assists our staff in being trauma-informed to help with social-emotional wellbeing. 

The SECOND TIER in MTSS is Targeted Supports. Approximately 10-15% of students need targeted supports to increase their skill levels. Examples of Tier 2 supports can include: 

• School Counseling Comprehensive Program - Students who may need additional support academically, social-emotionally, or behaviorally may be included in data-driven counseling small groups with parental or guardian permission.

• CICO - Check-in Check-out Intervention. This Intervention can be offered during: Parent Teacher Conferences, 504 meetings, SST Meetings, Attendance Conferences, or Discipline Meetings. Students take a form to each class to be given to each teacher. Each teacher rates the student and gives feedback on how well they have done following our PBIS Expectations each day in class. Students are awarded for reaching their percentage goal and reflection and guidance are given for improvements. This intervention is scheduled for 6 weeks with the allowance of another 6 weeks extension if proving beneficial to the student's progress. If the intervention is not proving helpful to the student, higher levels of intervention may be considered.

• Breaks are Better  - is a strategy to support students who avoid attention, students, or instruction as their primary motivation for their behavior.  

The THIRD TIER of MTSS is for Intensive Supports and approximately  5% of students may need intensive supports for academic and/or nonacademic needs at some point. If intensive supports continue to be unsuccessful, the MTSS team, which includes parents, may make a referral for a Section 504 or Special Education Evaluation. Examples of 3rd Tier interventions can include: Tier 3 relies on a team-based approach that includes: content (educators), intervention (e.g., school psychologist, behavior analysts), and student (e.g., student, family members) “experts” as well as school leaders (e.g., administrator).

Teams develop Tier 3 supports in any identified area of need (behavioral, academic, social, emotional), regardless of(dis)ability, and (b) prioritize instructional and environmental (e.g., adding cues, providing specific feedback) changes to support the student (rather than changing the student to fit into the environment). This focus on redesigning environments reduces the likelihood of ineffective, reactive, or exclusionary responses to students’ demonstrated needs.

• School Counseling Comprehensive Program - Students who may need additional support academically, social-emotionally, or behaviorally may be included in 1:1 Counseling with parental or guardian permission.