Implementing multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) can improve student outcomes (Anderson et al., 2025; Harlacher et al., 2024; Nitz et al., 2023) This includes increasing students’ academic achievement, having better behavioral outcomes, and enhancing student engagement and belonging. But to have a successful MTSS framework, educators must implement practices with fidelity.
Buy-in is the extent to which staff support a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and understand that it’s a framework to support all students, including students with disabilities. Leadership takes proactive steps to build buy-in and understanding of MTSS. This tip sheet includes guiding questions and tips for implementation.
Data-based decision making (DBDM) is the use of data to make decisions that benefit students. It occurs at all levels of MTSS implementation, from individual students to the district level. This infographic illustrates DBDM using the problem solving model, provides examples of how teams use data within MTSS and provides tips for data use.
A multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is a proactive and preventative framework that can meet the needs of all students. Despite all 50 states providing guidance on its use to local educators, many schools find themselves struggling to implement it well. In fact, while over 70% of surveyed districts report using MTSS, only 35% of districts reported having a “well established” MTSS.
This guide provides information and steps for school teams as they implement MTSS. It includes a definition of MTSS, reviews the essential MTSS components, and outlines steps to support implementation of MTSS within school sites.
The Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Fidelity Rubric (IMFR) assesses an elementary school’s implementation of MTSS where academic and social, emotional, and behavioral supports are strategically combined to improve student outcomes. The IMFR includes 14 items organized around instruction and intervention, assessment, data-based decision making, and infrastructure.
Have you ever sat in a team meeting discussing a student, and before you know it, the bell is ringing? Somehow, the team spent the entire meeting on one student, even though they had planned to discuss four students. Or have you ever spent hours discussing a student, going over every detail of their education, only to still feel unsure how to help the student? Perhaps you’ve implemented an intervention and monitored the student’s progress, only to be disappointed at the student’s lack of growth.
Need a process to support individual students? Use this flipbook to remind your team which steps to follow as you apply data-based decision making to the needs of individual students. The flipbook reviews the step of the problem solving model for individual student problem-solving. The model includes problem identification, problem analysis, plan identification and implementation, and plan evaluation.
During problem analysis, educators gather information on instruction, curriculum, and the environment to determine how it supports learners. Use this infographic to identify variables to measure and resources to support assessment.