MTSS 101: Teams
Climbing mountains requires a group of like-minded individuals who share a mutual passion and common goal. Preparations of a supportive team and a thoughtful leader include researching the route, understanding the weather conditions, packing the necessary gear, and familiarizing oneself with potential hazards and emergency protocols. MTSS like mountains can be overwhelming, but being prepared and communicating well is vital to navigate safely and make informed decisions.
Four Essential MTSS Teams
While there may be many different names for the various teams and team meetings that take place in MTSS schools here are four that I consider essential. Now in some cases, depending on the size of the school and number of available staff and specialists, some of these teams may be combined. In most schools, membership on various teams often have overlapping members - and that’s not a bad thing. Another key to successful MTSS implementation is clear and consistent communication between teams. My next blog post will be all about that! But for now let’s just go over the essential teams that function within an MTSS school.
MTSS Schoolwide Leadership Team. This team can vary in size but 8 to 10 people is typical, again depending on the size of the school. Representation from teachers at various grade levels, someone who coordinates interventions, a building administrator. Ideally, you have someone or a couple of people who have the skills and the training to review behavioral health data and academic data. These team will regularly review schoolwide and grade level data to determine if there are the appropriate resources allocated to the various groups of students at risk of difficulties.
Grade Level Team/Professional Learning Community (PLC) Team. Many schools who have moved to an MTSS framework have changed their school schedule to have a late start or an early release one day a week to provide teachers with time to meet and collaboratively plan. Ideally there is also an instructional coach that can make the rounds at the various grade level meetings to offer support and timely coordination.
Tier 2 Intervention Assistance Team. This team oversees the menu of options available at the supplemental support level. Some tier 2 supports are offered by classroom teachers but others are a centrally coordinated standardized intervention offered to small groups of students. For this reason you’ll want your intervention coordinators on the team, maybe a school counselor or school psychologist or behavioral consultant, or a Title 1 coordinator. Grade level classroom teachers may not meet with the team every time but they are invited to come to meetings to discuss specific students in their classroom.
Tier 3 Intervention Assistance Team. This team will be a smaller team made up of staff and specialists that have behavioral, social emotional expertise and ability to review data and align intensive and individualized interventions with the function of behavior and academic skill gaps. This team meets weekly and monitors students data weekly as well.