Multi-Tiered System of Support
Click here to access the D12 MTSS Handbook
D 12 Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
A Multi-Tiered System of Support, or MTSS, is a system specifically designed to intervene when students are identified as having a specific learning or social/emotional need (or set of needs), support them with specific and targeted interventions, monitor their progress, and ensure that they succeed. Success can be measured in terms of making sure students reach grade-level targets, making sure students that need acceleration beyond grade-level targets are challenged at an appropriate level, or by identifying and teaching students needed social/emotional strategies to enable them to have healthy relationships with themselves and others.
MTSS is really a continuum in levels of evidence-based practices meant to support students at many levels, from the classroom level to one-on-one interventions if necessary.
Only students needing additional support for success in Tier One (academically or behaviorally) will be discussed on this page. For services regarding students who need additional support for success beyond Tier One, please consult the Academically Talented Page of the Johnsburg D12 website.
Tier One is known as the universal support tier, and in this tier all students are given classroom-based supports to help them master the core curriculum that all students experience. These universal supports are instructional practices (such as differentiated instruction and practices based on Universal Design for Learning) that help all students be successful in school. Students that do not respond to the universal supports and are not meeting certain assessment data benchmarks are then moved to the next tier, Tier Two, where they will receive targeted supports to address their specific learning needs. These targeted interventions most often occur in a small group setting inside or outside of the classroom. Students at the targeted level who still need additional support are then moved to the third level, Tier Three, where they receive intensive one-on-one activities and instruction to help fill skill and concept gaps.
MTSS at Johnsburg District #12 - Overview of the MTSS process
MTSS consists of two main components. One component is an academic component that supports students success in Tier One or promotes success beyond Tier One in terms of the core curriculum. The other component is the behavioral component, which supports students in acquiring or developing needed social and/or emotional skills to aid in their success not only as a student but also as a whole person. In order to identify students that need either academic or behavioral supports, the following general process is used for both components:
*SAT - Student Assistance Team; this team is defined in the MTSS Handbook at the bottom of this page.
Please note that a universal screener is used for both the academic and behavioral components. This screener, no matter the MTSS component, is administered to all students at Johnsburg 12. For the academic component, MAP testing in conjunction with other data are used to identify students in need of support. The behavioral component uses the DESSA-mini screener, which is an 8-question screening tool filled out the first time during a school year by teachers at D12 at least one month after the start of the school year. Only teachers fill out the DESSA-mini screener; students do not fill anything out. These screeners are typically administered at other times of the school year in order to measure student progress, with the academic screener administered during the fall, winter, and spring and the behavioral screener filled out by teachers during the fall and the spring. The purpose of the screeners is to identify students in need of support; in the case of the behavioral screener, it is NOT meant to diagnose students with specific social or emotional issues. Instead, it is to identify students that may need a closer look to determine if they need any social or emotional supports by asking teachers to report how often they have seen specific common behaviors in their students. Part of that closer look may be to have a teacher fill out a full DESSA rating tool to give more detailed information about the social-emotional areas in which the student may be experiencing difficulties.
Behavioral MTSS - Overview Video
While Behavioral MTSS is a vital component of any MTSS system, District #12 understands that the behavioral component of MTSS may be new to some parents and/or guardians. To help promote a better understanding of what Behavioral MTSS looks like and how it operates, please view the video below. (You can also access the video by clicking here.)
MTSS at Johnsburg District #12 - MTSS Handbook
To review specific MTSS processes used to identify and support students to achieve success in Tier One, please consult the District #12 MTSS handbook linked below.