MTSS
Multi-Tiered System of Supports
MTSS is an integrated, data-driven prevention framework that organizes academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports across three tiers of increasing intensity: universal Tier 1 (all students), targeted Tier 2 (approximately 10-15% needing supplemental support), and intensive Tier 3 (approximately 1-5% needing individualized intervention). MTSS emerged as the integration of RTI (academic) and PBIS (behavior) and is embedded in ESSA (20 U.S.C. §6301) and IDEA (34 CFR §300.307(a)(2)).
Regulatory Citation
Example in Practice
A district screens all students three times per year with AIMSweb; students scoring below the 25th percentile receive Tier 2 small-group intervention 30 minutes daily, and those who fail to respond after 6-8 weeks move to Tier 3 individualized intervention with weekly progress monitoring.
Key Research Citations
- ·Bradshaw, Waasdorp & Leaf (2015, J Educational Psychology 107(2):546-557) — SW-PBIS RCT
- ·Fuchs & Fuchs (2006, Reading Research Quarterly 41(1):93-99) — RTI model integration
- ·Zhang et al. (2023, J Educational Leadership & Policy Studies) — 50-state MTSS analysis
Full bibliography available on the Research page.
This glossary entry is educational. It is not legal or clinical advice. Consult a qualified attorney or licensed clinician before making decisions that rely on this summary.