1. Tiered Support System

   • Tier 1: Universal Support – High-quality, evidence-based instruction and practices delivered to all students in the general education setting. Includes core curriculum, positive behavior support, and schoolwide social-emotional learning.
   • Tier 2: Targeted Support – Small-group interventions for students who require additional support beyond Tier 1. Services may include supplemental academic instruction, social skills groups, or behavior intervention plans.
   • Tier 3: Intensive Support – Individualized and intensive interventions for students with significant or persistent needs. These supports are data-driven and often involve collaboration with specialists or related service providers.

2. Data-Based Decision Making

   • Regular use of universal screening tools, progress monitoring, and formative assessment data to identify student needs
   • Problem-solving teams that review student-level and system-level data to design appropriate interventions and track effectiveness

3. Collaborative Teaming

   • Building- and district-level MTSS teams comprised of general education teachers, intervention specialists, school psychologists, counselors, behavior specialists, and administrators
   • Active collaboration with families to support intervention strategies and reinforce learning at home

4. Integrated Supports

   • Alignment of academic interventions with behavioral, mental health, and attendance supports
   • Integration of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and trauma-informed practices
   • Connection to special education when data suggests a need for formal evaluation under IDEA

Services may include:

• Universal academic and behavioral screening for all students
• Tiered intervention planning and progress monitoring
• Academic interventions in reading, writing, and math aligned with Ohio’s Learning Standards
• Positive behavior interventions and strategies through schoolwide PBIS
• Social-emotional learning instruction and targeted counseling supports
• Problem-solving team facilitation and documentation
• Family engagement and communication during intervention planning and progress reviews
• Professional development for staff in evidence-based instruction, intervention, data literacy, and inclusive practices
• Referral to special education evaluation when adequate progress is not made despite intensive support

Alignment with Legal and State Guidance:

• Supports early identification and intervention to reduce the need for more restrictive programming
• Ensures child find responsibilities are met under IDEA
• Complies with ESSA expectations for tiered instruction, intervention, and school improvement planning
• Aligns with the Ohio Department of Education’s Statewide MTSS Framework

MTSS ensures that students are supported not only academically, but behaviorally and socially, through a coordinated, equitable, and inclusive approach that promotes positive outcomes for all learners.