Glossary · Teaching and intervention
What is MTSS in education?
Definition
MTSS, a multi-tiered system of supports, is a school-wide framework that screens all students and gives increasing levels of help to those who need it.
MTSS covers academics and often behavior and attendance too. For reading, it usually has three tiers: core instruction for all (Tier 1), small-group support for some (Tier 2), and intensive help for a few (Tier 3).
The engine of MTSS is data. Universal screening finds students at risk, progress monitoring checks whether support is working, and teams meet regularly to move students between tiers.
MTSS and RTI overlap a lot. RTI came first and focused on academics and on identifying learning disabilities. MTSS is broader and is now the more common term. In practice, many schools use the two names for nearly the same process.
In a lesson
In the fall screening, 18 of 90 second graders score below benchmark. Twelve go to Tier 2 groups, six get Tier 3 support, and the team reviews progress data every six weeks.
Why does this matter for the record?
Teams in MTSS meetings ask for dates, minutes, skills taught and progress data. Keeping those four together makes the meeting short.
Rate each skill as you teach it
Needs support, Developing, Secure. The rating schedules the review and builds the report.