Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is a framework that focuses on intervention best practices within the areas of academic, behavior, and social/emotional supports for the whole child. Tiers are based on student need and increase the level of support provided as a student moves from classroom wide, to targeted and intensive interventions. MTSS is a data-driven, problem-solving framework to improve outcomes for every student. Essential components of MTSS include:

• The use of evidence-based practices
• Instruction as prevention
• A tiered continuum of supports increasing in intensity based on student need
• A focus on teaming
• An emphasis on improving the quality of implementation

The goal of MTSS is to find struggling students early and quickly provide intervention that is proven by research to meet a student’s needs. Progress monitoring data is used to make decisions about movement between the tiers.

There are three tiers of support in MTSS:
• Tier 1 includes high quality classroom-wide instruction and support for all students.
• Tier 2 provides targeted support to address a student’s gaps in skills.
• Tier 3 involves intensive support, usually provided more often and in smaller groups.