Multi-Tiered System of Supports (2017-19)

In June, MTSS advisory team members reviewed written MTSS frameworks from Washington, California, Colorado, and Florida and provided input on the components of a written framework for Lake Washington School District.

Advisory members also discussed the role of the advisory in 2018-19, and the district’s 2018-19 MTSS pilot process.

Agenda

In May, MTSS advisory team members learned about the supports provided by our Directors of School Support. Following a presentation by Director, Rick Burden, the team discussed roles of school-based teams in a Multi-Tiered System of Supports and reviewed the article What’s Your Plan? Accurate Decision Making within a Multi-Tier System of Supports: Critical Areas in Tier 1 by Terri Metcalf, M.Ed., J.D., Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MiBLSi).

Agenda

In March, MTSS advisory team members read and discussed Response to Intervention for Gifted Children by The Association for the Gifted, a Division of the Council for Exceptional Children.

Following the discussion, Heather Sanchez Director Accelerated Programs, Choice and Innovation provided an overview of accelerated programs and services in the Lake Washington School District. She then led a discussion of connections to MTSS.

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Presentation materials

In February, MTSS advisory team members read and discussed Revisiting the Regular Education Initiative: Multi-tiered Systems of Support Can Strengthen the Connection Between General and Special Education from Journal of American Academy of Special Education Professionals.

Following the discussion, Paul Vine, Director of Special Services gave an overview of special education programs and services in the Lake Washington School District. During his presentation, he shared data about the academic performance of students receiving special education services and areas of potential growth and opportunity for the district.

At the end of the meeting the team discussed an MTSS school-team pilot process for 2018-19.

Agenda
Presentation materials

In January, Kelly Pease, Director of Intervention Services gave an overview of academic intervention programs and services in LWSD. These include:

• Safety Net Services
• English Language Learner Services
• Homeless Services
• Native American/Alaska Native Programs and Services
• Title I Programs and Services

During her presentation, Ms. Pease described qualities of the programs and services that support students and that are tied to student success. These include:

• Quality instruction
• Targeted evidence-based intervention
• Implementation fidelity
• Monitoring of student progress
• Use of data to make decisions

In addition, Ms. Pease shared examples of supports that are provided to schools, such as teacher training, coaches, facilitators and instructional materials that help students and teachers learn. Through these efforts, we are seeing positive trends in student performance. For example, achievement gaps are closing in our Title 1 schools. And, students who exit our English Learner (EL) program are performing as well as, or better than, non-EL students in our schools.

Following the presentation, the team read information from OSPI’s recently published “Menus of Best Practices and Strategies” for English language arts and mathematics. These documents include evidence and research-based practices and strategies shown to improve student achievement. Many of the strategies and practices are delivered through LWSD intervention services. The team also read about how these practices and strategies are tied to a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Examples include:

Agenda
Presentation materials

In December, Matt Gillingham, Director of Student Services, and Dr. Jen Rose, Director of Teaching and Learning provided an overview social, emotional and behavioral supports that exist in our district and efforts that are underway at the elementary and secondary levels to address the needs of all students. These include universal approaches such as curriculum, common expectations, suicide prevention and mental health education, drug and alcohol education, and conflict resolution. They also discussed selective and targeted approaches to supporting students such as counseling, conferences, restorative practices, guidance teams, risk assessments and referrals for treatment. The Washington State Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks were also shared with the team.

Following a discussion about potential areas for growth, the team read two research summaries about behavioral supports and social emotional learning published by Hanover Research. As they read, team members recorded ideas and content that could be used as “indicators of success” for an effective Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Examples included:

• Identifying and implementing supports that are culturally responsive
• Using a universal approach to teaching positive social and behavioral skills
• Use of behavior assessments
• Use of a proactive approach to behavior supported by interventions for small groups
• Identifying and teaching core competencies such as self-awareness, self-management and social awareness

Agenda
Presentation materials
Behavioral Supports Handout
Best Practices in Social Emotional Learning
Best Practices in Multi-Tiered Support Structures

In November, the leadership team began learning about MTSS, and was provided with an orientation to the work ahead. Members began by sharing individual interests for a well-articulated system of supports in the district. Examples of these interests included:

• Better supporting all teachers so that they can meet the academic needs of each child in their class.
• Setting up a framework for school-side data tracking of students, to make sure no students are missed.
• Putting in place structures to support the social and emotional needs of our students.
• Improving the collaboration and communication between Special Education and general education teachers.

Team members then read and discussed a Research Brief about MTSS by Orla Higgins Averill and Claudia Rinaldi, of the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative.

Agenda
Presentation materials