Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Overview

Tier 1

For MTSS, a school must first establish its tier 1, or universal supports. Universal supports are the instructional practices that help all students in a school. Once the universal supports are in place, staff can use assessment data to determine which students need additional supports.

Tiers 2 and 3

The intensity and duration of supports increase for tiers 2 and 3. The appropriate level of support for each student is determined by assessment data.

Continuum of Supports

A triangle is used to illustrate the broad base of tier 1 supports gradually narrowing to the targeted but more intensive tier three supports. Tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 supports are also known as universal, targeted, and intensive supports respectively.

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Instruction, interventions and supports are chosen because there is evidence that indicates expected success for the identified need. Fidelity of implementation of instruction, interventions and supports is critical to learner success.

A comprehensive screening and assessment system is a coordinated system of multiple assessments and measures which include:

1. Balanced assessment system (formative, benchmark/interim, summative)
2. Universal screening measures and decision rules for using those data
3. Progress monitoring assessments and decision rules for using those data
4. Diagnostic assessment process

Assessments provide data that can be used to determine the success of a practice or student support. If the data shows a weakness in a practice, or shows that a student is not responding to supports, staff can develop a plan of action to address the issue.