Unit 4 Objectives & Introduction

Introduction

In the previous unit, we explored various resources featuring a range of interventions and progress monitoring techniques, empowering you to select appropriate methods for a student in your class. Now, in this unit, we'll delve into the MTSS problem-solving process followed by teams when addressing students of concern. These meetings serve as the platform for formalizing MTSS plans. We'll then examine methods for evaluating intervention effectiveness and strategies for adjusting plans if students aren't progressing as expected. Upon completion of the unit, you'll have the opportunity to reflect on the implementation of your plan and consider how to enhance the MTSS process within your school building.

Objectives

Use a step-by-step process to create an MTSS plan
Implement and monitor the plan
Make adjustments to the plan as needed

Lesson 1: Creating and Implementing an MTSS Plan

**MTSS Problem Solving Process** Source: Des Moines Public Schools Assessment, Data, and Evaluation

When MTSS teams hold a meeting to put support in place for a student, they follow a structured, data-driven problem-solving process.

Step 1: Problem Identification
Step 2: Problem Analysis
Step 3: Plan Identification and Implementation
Step 4: Plan Evaluation

View the following resources to learn about the MTSS Problem Solving Process. Then create an intervention plan for the student(s) you identified in Units 2 and 3.

This website from the Des Moines Public Schools Assessment, Data, and Evaluation team discusses their districts MTSS Collaborative Problem-Solving Process.

Continuous School Improvement Through the Collaborative Problem-Solving Process

The AIR Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports Flipbook provides an overview of each step in the MTSS Problem Solving process with guiding questions and examples.

A Flipbook to Support Use of the Problem-Solving Model for Individual Students

In this video from the IEP Technical Assistance Center, Data-Based Problem Solving is discussed and how it supports the MTSS Problem Solving Process.

Key Takeaways:

Data is used in the process to identify the gap between expected and current student outcomes as well as identify the level or tier of instruction or intervention that is appropriate based on student need.
Important components of the data-driven problem-solving process:
- Problem Identification: What is the problem?
  - Define the problem by identifying the learning gap
- Problem Analysis: Why is the problem occurring?
  - Generate a hypothesis as to why the problem is occurring
- Plan Identification and Implementation: What can we do about it?
  - Identify a goal
  - Implement a clear plan to address the problem
  - Identify a way to measure the outcome
- Plan Evaluation: Did we follow the plan? Did it work?
  - Evaluate student progress
  - Evaluate the fidelity of the plan

Lesson 2: Evaluating the Effectiveness of an MTSS Plan

View the following resources about evaluating MTSS plans and making adjustments to them as needed.

Evaluating MTSS Plans:

The MTSS Fidelity of Implementation Rubric and Summary Sheet assess how well schools implement MTSS. They're for monitoring and self-evaluation, not compliance. It is available for download at their website linked here:

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Fidelity of Implementation Rubric

In this Branching Minds article, the process of determining effective instructional practices and interventions is discussed so MTSS support teams can make informed decisions about student progress and next steps.

How to Know if an MTSS Intervention Plan is Working (and What to Do if It Isn’t)

This video by Illuminate Education discusses a few ways schools can evaluate the overall effectiveness of their intervention program.

Making Adjustments to MTSS Plans:

This article by the AIR Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports, discusses how to evaluate the needs of the student and the features of the instructional system when a student isn't responding to the interventions put in place and what steps can be taken to make adjustments to the intervention plan.

What To Do When Students Don’t Respond to Interventions

In this Branching Minds article, it reviews the essential components of an MTSS intervention plan, then discusses what to do if a plan is showing no growth.

How To Respond to an MTSS Intervention Plan Showing No Growth

This video by the AIR Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports talks about how utilizing progress monitoring data drives positive change in student performance; thus, teachers must consistently attend to the data and assign responsibility for implementing instructional changes. Gathering 8-12 data points over several weeks, following decision-making rules like the four-point rule or trend line rule, is crucial for accurate and effective intervention decisions.

Key Takeaways:

Ways to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions:
- Implement a program data-analysis team
- Look for pockets of success
- Look at who is receiving the interventions
  - Are gaps closing?
  - What is the rate of improvement?
When interventions are not closing gaps:
- Did we give the intervention enough time? Do we have 4-6 weeks of intervention, minimum of 8 data points, etc.
- Evaluate core instruction (fidelity)
- Evaluate interventions (fidelity, does intervention match target skill)
- Determine if more support is needed (such as a move to Tier 3)

Self-Assessment & Discussion

Self-Assessment

Check your understanding by answering the following questions.

Part 1: Reflect on your MTSS plan.

Implement your plan.
Evaluate the effectiveness of your plan.
What adjustments can you make to increase student success?

Part 2: Reflect on the MTSS needs in your school building.

What strengths and resources within your school do you believe can contribute to the successful implementation of MTSS?
What specific challenges or areas of improvement within your school could benefit from MTSS implementation?
If your building already has an MTSS process, how can your MTSS team strengthen its process?

Discussion

Reflect on the implementation of your plan and one way your MTSS team can enhance its MTSS process within your school building. Remember, do not use any identifying information if you choose to refer to specific students in your response. Use the Discussion tab (at the top of this page, above the navigation links) to share your response in a discussion post.