MTSS in Mount Vernon School District

A Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS ) is an “all education initiative”, a framework designed to respond to the needs of ALL students. In the Mount Vernon School District we have adopted the aspirational goal that 100% of our students will graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in post-secondary education careers and life. We are committed to an equitable educational experience for our students so that every student is provided what they need to be successful. We believe that implementing a multi-tiered system of supports for students is a critical component of our strategy to realize our goals and commitments.

MTSS refers to a structure of learning supports systemically in place to help each and every student succeed. It creates an integrated multi-tiered system of instruction, assessment and intervention designed to address both academic and behavioral needs.

The essential components of a MTSS is as follows:

• Universal screening

• Progress monitoring

• School-wide multi-tiered prevention system

• Data-based decision-making for instruction and intervention

Fulfilling our District's Core Beliefs through the Essential Components of MTSS

The Mount Vernon School District has established five CORE BELIEFS about achieving quality education. The essential components of MTSS and practices within this system align with the District’s core beliefs.

1. Equity: The commitment to providing every student what they need to be successful.
   MTSS promotes a shared responsibility for ensuring the growth and success of all learners. Data is used as a basis for information-gathering and to avoid making assumptions.

2. A school climate that emphasizes student safety, health and well-being, and respect for all members of the school community.
   MTSS promotes the implementation of research-based positive behavior systems classrooms throughout the district. There is a strong commitment and focus on integrating prevention and intervention strategies that create a positive and effective learning environment.

3. Professional collaboration that is focused on increasing performance at all level of the district.
   MTSS promotes strong collaborative teams as fundamental to the process of effective problem-solving and instructional decision-making. Professional development is devoted to supporting the attainment of deep knowledge and implementation of Marzano, GLAD, and AVID strategies and the DuFour model for professional collaboration.

4. Open, timely, and reciprocal communication.
   MTSS promotes the engagement of all stakeholders, including students and their families, to share information about progress. Such communication promotes informed decision making about services that best meet student needs. Families are partners in a multi-tiered system of support.

5. Responsible stewardship, ensuring the responsive and productive management of district resources.
   MTSS promotes a collaborative examination of the fidelity of implementation and the evidence of the effectiveness of programs and interventions. The District's data collection system is integrated and includes assessments that determine the learning needs of students and monitoring the effectiveness of the instruction system.