ND Multi-Tier System of Supports

Assessment

The process of collecting, reviewing, and using the information to make educational decisions about student learning.

Assessment is an important part of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) because it helps educators to identify the academic and behavioral needs of students, monitor their progress, and provide appropriate interventions. These practices help to inform instruction, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and determine the level of support needed for each student. Assessment data also helps to guide decision making and problem solving within MTSS teams.

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Data-Based Decision Making

Optimizes the use of data for purposes of informing individual student instruction, identifying strengths and weaknesses in a classroom, and illuminating trends and gaps across a school district.

Data-based decision making (DBDM) is an important part of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) because it helps educators to identify the academic and behavioral needs of students, monitor their progress, and provide appropriate interventions. Data-based decision making also helps to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction and intervention, and to guide problem-solving and decision making within MTSS teams2.

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Multi-Tiered Instruction

A multi-tier approach is used to efficiently differentiate instruction for all students.

MTSS helps educators to provide high-quality, evidence-based, and differentiated instruction and intervention to all students, based on their academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs. By providing evidence-based supports at each Tier, educators can ensure that all students receive the appropriate level of challenge and support that matches their individual needs and strengths.

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Infrastructure & Support Mechanisms

Knowledge, resources, and organizational structures necessary to operationalize components of NDMTSS in a unified system to meet established goals.

Sound infrastructure and effective shared leadership are the foundation from which all the other essential elements are built. Without a strong infrastructure and effective shared leadership, it is not possible to design a strong, layered continuum of support, engage in sound data-based decision making, or support collaboration and communication.

*Adapted from Nebraska MTSS

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Fidelity & Evaluation

Fidelity and evaluation are interrelated and complementary processes that support the implementation of MTSS. 

Kids can’t benefit from ineffective practices done well nor can they benefit from effective practices done poorly. We need both.

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