WORKSHOP

Multi-Tiered System of Support— Part 2: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Programs

In this continuation of our workshop on MTSS, we will focus in a little more detail on Tier 1 (support and Instruction that all students receive) and Tier 2 (Strategic support that some students receive to help them meet standard).

MTSS covers a broad set of supports in academics, social-emotional, behavior, etc.   This more in-depth focus of discussion will be on literacy and should not be mistaken by the board as the whole of tier 1 and tier 2 supports.

A summary of the three-tiered MTSS model:

Instruction, enrichment, and intervention are delivered along a continuum to meet the full spectrum of social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs of all students. In a multi-tiered system of supports, tiers describe the intensity of support provided. Tiers do not define students.

Tier 1 is the foundation for additional layers of support and should meet the needs of approximately 80% of the student population. Every student has equitable access to universal instruction and supports are:

• research-based and aligned to grade-level standards
• culturally and linguistically responsive
• universally designed,  and
• differentiated to meet their unique needs

When more than 20% of students need additional support, leadership teams should re-examine the tier 1 supports in place, as it is an indication that tier 1 instruction and supports may be insufficient. Targeted enrichment and interventions are added to accelerate learning and remove barriers preventing students from benefiting fully from universal instruction and supports.

Tier 2 supports are  an additional layer of targeted, evidence-based intervention programs that include: clearly defined entrance and exit criteria

• regular progress monitoring to assess response to intervention
• explicit instruction with increased opportunities to practice and receive specific, frequent feedback
• gradual release of control and support when students master skills, and
• increased communication with families to ensure consistency of support in school and at home (Anderson and Borgmeier, 2010; Newcomer, Freeman, and Barrett, 2013). 

Tier 3 supports are an additional layer of intensive, evidence-based intervention programs that have been individualized to meet the needs of students who demonstrate significant risk or do not respond to tier 2 interventions. Interventions may be intensified across seven domains for more detail):

• strength of the intervention program
• dosage of supports
• alignment to target skills and standards
• attention to transfer
• comprehensiveness
• behavioral support, and
• data-based individualization