What Is Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)?

The idea that students may need different types of support to reach their academic potential was first authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act over two decades ago. Since then, the ways that educators meet their students’ needs have continued to evolve.

Many schools now use the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework to guide their students toward success. Modern MTSS models include both educational and other types of support. These models promote academic, behavioral, and social-emotional growth through three tiers. 

An MTSS program is well-suited for any school that serves a student body with diverse needs. Interventions are general enough to support all students and specific enough to support one child. 

Understanding MTSS

What is MTSS? It is a model that schools use to organize resources, especially resources for academic, behavioral, social, and emotional supports. 

MTSS is not a specific curriculum, but can be understood as an approach. Another way to think of it is as a framework that schools can use to create a more positive school culture and assist students who are struggling. 

An MTSS program integrates academic and behavioral supports in one system to promote a whole-child approach to education. Interventions for students with academic challenges could include peer tutoring, weekly academic check-ins, or starting a homework club at the school, for example. 

Students with behavioral challenges can be supported through classroom interventions, organization-wide training, or counseling for substance abuse. 

MTSS relies on data-driven and evidence-based interventions. Educators and others within the student’s support circle carefully monitor progress to ensure the interventions are working as intended. 

A multi-tiered system of support framework is not a replacement for core instruction. Instead, MTSS enhances instruction and helps create a more positive environment for learning.

The Three Tiers of MTSS Explained

The tiered structure of MTSS allows educators to address challenges faced by all students, by groups of students, and by individual students. Interventions are organized into tiers to address a range of students’ needs, from universal to customized supports for individuals. 

Teams assigned to each tier decide what interventions to implement. To start, educators conduct a universal screening early in the school year. They use objective metrics to assess student engagement and identify potential issues. 

MTSS is a proactive approach, not a reactive one. The goal is to recognize challenges early and adjust supports to meet student needs. 

Tier 1: Universal Supports

Tier 1 interventions support a more positive school culture, which benefits all students, teachers, and school staff. These supports happen everywhere throughout the school, including the playground, cafeteria, and classroom. 

Universal supports are the foundation for the MTSS framework. They include interventions that focus on behavioral expectations, such as no-bullying programs. Academic performance, attendance, and other metrics are measured to assess the efficacy of these interventions.

Tier 2: Targeted Supports

Tier 2 interventions offer additional help to students who are at risk or who struggle with specific academic and behavioral challenges. These targeted supports are typically delivered to small groups of students with similar needs, such as reading fluency or emotional regulation. 

Progress monitoring is an important feature of this level because Tier 2 supports are short-term and data-driven. Examples of Tier 2 supports include reading instruction, behavioral management, and social skills groups. 

Tier 3: Intensive Supports

Tier 3 is the most intensive level of support and is reserved for students with complex, ongoing needs. Individualized interventions target unique challenges that require sustained attention. Only about 5% of all students need Tier 3 support. 

Examples of Tier 3 interventions include one-on-one instruction, wraparound services, and specialized behavioral plans. 

The Role of Collaboration in MTSS

An impactful multi-tiered system of support program requires collaboration among educators, families, and other professionals, such as speech therapists. Regular team meetings and consistent communications make the interventions more effective and ensure that students can access the correct resources. 

Additionally, teams are needed to enact MTSS and oversee the supports in each tier. 

Benefits of Implementing MTSS in Schools

There are many benefits to implementing MTSS in your school. They include:

• Early identification of students who are struggling
• Whole-child support that addresses academic, behavioral, social, and emotional challenges
• Improved student behavior
• Improved social and emotional well-being
• Focus on prevention
• Data-driven supports

By integrating supports, schools can avoid wasting resources through duplication while better meeting the needs of all students. 

How MTSS Aligns With Rachel’s Challenge

At Rachel’s Challenge, our programs share complementary goals with MTSS. Our mission is to promote kindness and reduce self-harm, bullying, and forms of school violence. 

The promotion of a kinder, more positive school culture creates a better environment for learning. All of our programs, including those for elementary, middle, and high school students, foster a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment with age-appropriate material. 

Rachel’s Challenge programs support MTSS initiatives with information and exercises intended to promote:

• Kindness
• Acceptance and inclusion
• Choosing positive influences
• Setting goals
• Being a leader

Our programs focus on preventive safety. We believe that a focus on emotional skills leads to better mental and behavioral health. Improving these skills is fundamental to improving academic success. In this way, our live and digital programs support the larger goals of the MTSS framework. 

Enhance Your MTSS Framework With Rachel’s Challenge

What is MTSS? It is a system that creates a foundation for every student’s success. MTSS is a three-tiered organizational approach to providing resources to students when and where they are needed. 

Tier 1 of a multi-tiered system of support provides universal interventions that benefit all students. Tier 2 interventions offer targeted support to small groups of students who are facing similar challenges. Tier 3 supports are customized to meet the needs of individual students. 

At Rachel’s Challenge, our programs complement your MTSS efforts by promoting kindness, empathy, and a safe school culture — critical elements that support academic and behavioral growth at every level. 

Are you ready to strengthen your school’s MTSS approach? Book a Rachel’s Challenge event for your school today. You can also support our mission to improve school culture and reduce violence through donations.