What is MTSS? A guide to the multi-tiered system of supports in schools

A multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is a framework many schools use to help identify students who are struggling and intervene quickly. opens in a new tabYou may also hear it called the MTSS framework, the MTSS process, or the MTSS model. 

MTSS focuses on the “whole child.” That means it supports academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs. It also addresses school absenteeism. 

“MTSS is designed to catch students who are struggling and support them before it snowballs into something complex,” says Shira Moskovitz, a special education teacher and technology specialist with a decade of experience in New York City Public Schools. “So, as soon as a teacher notices that they have a student struggling, they might offer them to join a small group that’s happening in the classroom.”

As students’ needs change, they may move through the different tiers of support within the MTSS framework. Here’s a closer look at how the three tiers of MTSS work in schools.

Most school districts use an MTSS system with three tiers of support. Throughout each tier, teachers evaluate whether the support is working and necessary. And they plan the next steps. 

Here’s a basic outline of the three-tiered system.

All students in the general education classroom are in this tier. Teachers use instruction that’s proven to work. Students may work in small groups based on their strengths and needs. The school monitors all kids’ progress. 

For example, the whole class may be learning about fractions in math class. On some days, students might work in small groups. On other days, students might complete individual tasks for assessment. The teacher collects data each day. If the data shows that a student continues to struggle, they may move to Tier 2 for additional support. 

Students in Tier 2 still attend Tier 1 lessons with the rest of the class. But they receive more targeted support through small group lessons and specialized supports,opens in a new tab like interventions. Tier 2 can also include behavioral or social supports.

For example, students struggling with fractions might get extra instruction from the teacher. They might meet with a small group several times a week for targeted instruction and practice using visuals, manipulatives, and other supports.

“Many students benefit from this support at some point,” Moskovitz said. “It doesn’t mean that they have a learning or thinking difference.” 

A student who isn’t making progress may stay in Tier 2 or move to Tier 3.

This tier can mean small group work or more intensive one-on-one lessons. Most kids in Tier 3 still spend a lot of the day in the general education classroom. But they may spend more time each day in a resource room than before. 

For example, a student who continues to struggle with fractions after Tier 2 support might work with a math intervention teacher. 

According to Moskovitz, “Generally, if a student is still struggling after receiving Tier 3 support for a sustained period of time, teachers and parents discuss other forms of support.” They might talk about whether an evaluation for special education is the right next step. 

MTSS isn’t a specific curriculum. It’s a proven approach that has key elements:

• Universal screening for all students early in each school year

• Evidence-based instruction at every tier of support, designed to address the student’s academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs

• Increasing levels of intervention for students who are struggling

• Progress monitoring to help decide if students need more intervention

• Collaboration among staff,opens in a new tab including teachers, counselors, psychologists, and other specialists, to assess students and plan interventions

• Family involvement so parents and caregivers can understand the interventions and give support at home

MTSS is a schoolwide initiative. Collaboration across departments is essential. “From the staff’s perspective, there is no ‘your students’ or ‘my students,’” Moskovitz explains. “They are all our students, and we work collectively to support them.”

MTSS and response to intervention (RTI) are both tiered frameworks designed to identify struggling students early and provide necessary supports. Many schools use MTSS and RTI at the same time. But they’re not the same thing.

RTI only focuses on academic needs. It measures students’ skills and uses that data to decide which interventions to use. It also records how students respond to those interventions.

MTSS is a broader, “umbrella” term that can include the three tiers of RTI within its own three MTSS tiers. MTSS goes beyond academics to include emotional and behavioral supports. It also supports adults at school by providing professional development for teachers.

MTSS can seem like a complex process. But really, “the benefit of utilizing MTSS successfully is that all students who need support get it when they need it,” according to Moskovitz.

Learn more about how RTI and MTSS differ and overlap.

The goal of MTSS is to screen early and give support quickly. It can also help schools tell the difference between kids who haven’t had effective instruction in the past and those who truly need special education.

A student may move fluidly between the tiers and stay in a tier for a few weeks to a semester or longer. Along the way, the student’s progress is monitored. If students don’t make enough progress in Tier 3, a special education evaluation is usually the next step.opens in a new tab Students reach this point with lots of documentation. This data can be helpful when evaluating whether a child has a disability and needs specialized instruction and support. 

MTSS data can also help inform which supports are included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan. For example, a school using RTI within its MTSS framework will record how a student responds to a particular intervention, such as one-on-one reading lessons. This data is valuable for determining the student’s future supports.

Parents and caregivers: To find out if your school uses an MTSS framework, check your district website. Or talk to school staff and ask how they identify students who need extra support. But you don’t have to wait for kids to go through all phases of MTSS before requesting an evaluation. You can ask for one at any point.

Thumbnail image credit: AJ Watt via Getty Images