MTSS Systems Alignment Checklist

Let's get right to it: creating your Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, or MTSS, plan doesn't have to be cumbersome or complicated. You don't have to baby-step this process over a 5-year period. You don't have to implement pieces of support in K-6, and then gingerly avoid MTSS conversations at the secondary level. You don't need to pay thousands upon thousands of dollars to subscribe to MTSS tracking software, and you don't need to go through a rigorous training.

More than anything, you need clarity on what both academic and behavior MTSS involves, and then, you need:

1. A way to organize your clear expectations (including timelines, processes, and documentation) so that...

2. The amazing people in your schools can follow the process and provide support to the kiddos who need it.

I am not an instructional expert in MTSS, nor do I want to be (tbh). I am not the person you call to model Tier 2 reading or math interventions. I am not the person you work with to develop your Jr-Sr high plan for college and career readiness.

Instead, I'm the person who tracks patterns that create "problems" inside of organizations, and I help you identify:

1. What you are already doing that is working

2. How to align those practices across buildings and

3. How to create organizational structures that make the processes clear and accessible.

In my role as a district alignment coach, I am so fortunate to get to spend a lot of brainstorming and planning time with coaches, teacher leaders and principals. From the building perspective--there could almost always be a stronger direction of clarity of expectations from central office.

I also spend a lot of time brainstorming and planning with curriculum directors, assistant superintendents, and superintendents. From the central office perspective--there could almost always be a stronger implementation of expectations and procedures within the buildings.

Buildings want structure and clarity of processes--that actually work--and central office folks want consistency and follow-through on those processes. I promise you--everyone is actually on the same team, wanting the same outcome: success for their students, teachers, and community. I promise you--this is the truth.

Academic and behavior MTSS systems and expectations can become complicated, unclear, ineffective hot mess if--from the start--there is a lack of organization or clarity around the processes (and where to find them).

We found that though many individual schools had pieces or pockets of an MTSS plan–clarity of process, structure, and expectation was non-existent among and between buildings. 

To address the lack of clarity concerns that so many schools have shared, we have started to offer the following support:

• Facilitated auditing and reflection of existing MTSS processes and schedules

• Co-creation of district MTSS development plan 

• Co-design of digital documents and clear processes

• Co-creation of district rollout plan for MTSS processes in buildings

• Clarification of both academic and behavioral tiered supports

• Facilitation of leadership team development of Tier 1 behavior expectations

We also created this MTSS Systems Alignment Checklist for teams to self-evaluate where they are in their development--and determine what areas of support they may have. Sometimes we need tiers of support as we create our tiers of support!

Here's the suggestion: Print out this checklist (it's 3 pages--academic, behavior, district alignment) and see where your team lands in terms of clear, organized structures and processes. You may feel great about your Tier 1 behavior processes--but realize you really don't have Tier 2 and Tier 3 processes in place. Or you may have solid K-6 Tier 2 reading supports--but realize you actually don't have solid Tier 1 pacing and curricular alignment in that area.

The purpose of the checklist is to allow you to self-evaluate and reflect as you determine what your needs may be. And hopefully you take this survey and realize you are in GREAT shape (YES!) and if so, pat yourselves on the back, please! Organizing and aligning MTSS processes is a lot, and if your district team has figured this out--you are well ahead of the curve.

And if you finish this survey and realize you could use some additional support regarding process organization, documentation, PD planning, staff onboarding--we are here to help you create that plan.