Recently, topics of post-pandemic learning loss have been in the headlines, and parents might be wondering, “What if my child is falling behind in school?”  That’s where knowing what to ask for from the school administration is helpful.  MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and it is a framework that was developed with both the child’s academic and behavior performance in mind.  Previously, educators had dealt with academic and behavioral challenges separately, but over time, educators realized that often, academic and behavioral issues are intertwined, and to improve one side, the other needed to be addressed as well.

The Multi-Tiered System of Support includes three tiers of support:

• Tier 1: Universal Support
• Tier 2: Supplemental and Targeted Support
• Tier 3: Intensive and Individualized Support

To understand each of these tiers better, here are some examples of what support in each tier could look like.  In Tier 1, universal classroom teaching is for the entire class, and teachers will strive to design their core lesson plans so that the majority of the class will be able to follow along.  Teachers will try their best to provide clear, engaging general instruction, as their preference is to anticipate and prevent a need for additional interventions.  However, despite best efforts, students may still need additional support to reach grade level performance, so that is where Tier 2 and 3 come in.  In Tier 2, mini-lessons are customized for small groups of students with a similar weakness.  During independent reading time, the teacher may work with certain groups of students to reinforce topics or provide some additional practice.  In Tier 3, extra learning time is assigned to the student, and this might take the form of one-on-one time with a specialist, with individualized intensive practice work.

If these types of support sound like they could potentially help your child, the first thing you want to do is check with your child’s teacher about standardized testing.  Your child’s education team, which includes not only the classroom teacher, but also support staff, needs to know what the starting point for your child is.  After measuring your child’s proficiency, the education team should put together a time-bound plan to close the learning gaps.  While the plan is in place, the education team should conduct regular progress monitoring to see if the student is on track to meet their goals.  As a parent, you are a key stakeholder in your child’s education and with this knowledge, you will be able to ask how the school can support your child through these various tiers and check in with your child’s teacher on improvements over time.

For more on this topic, check out this video here: