The goal of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Framework is to support all students and help them develop skills in a way that aligns with the mission and vision of Insight PA. All students receive tiered levels of support based on the results of screening data/procedures completed throughout the school year.
MTSS Program at Insight PA
The MTSS processes are a framework for locating, supporting, and monitoring progress for all students. Insight PA supports students in three key areas, also called “components”. The three components are the following:
Attendance – The Attendance component of MTSS focuses on ensuring all students attend live class sessions every day. In Pennsylvania, school attendance is mandatory from ages 6-18/graduation.
Social-Emotional Learning and Functional Behaviors (SEL+F) – The SEL+F component of MTSS encompasses social-emotional, behavioral & functional skills, such as self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, social awareness, and self-awareness.
Academics – The Academic component of MTSS focuses on standards-aligned and foundational academic skills, primarily in reading and mathematics.
Screenings
All students complete SEL and academic screenings three times per year (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Attendance in classes is tracked during every school day. SEL, academic, and attendance data are utilized to determine the level and types of support in attendance, SEL+F, and academics each student needs to achieve their goals.
Academic Screenings:
During the three screening windows, students complete either the Aimsweb+ (K-5) or Exact Path Diagnostic (6-12). These screening tools look at the skills level of each student in various areas related to reading and mathematics. They are compared to a large sample of same-grade peers across the country to determine their strengths and areas of continuing development that assist in both tiered support and class content.
Social-Emotional Learning and Functionial Behavior (SEL+F) Screenings:
Our school cares about the well-being of all students and has programs designed to support their social emotional development. To help stay in touch with our students’ development and potential social emotional concerns, we conduct school-wide screenings of all students using the SSIS SEL Brief + Mental Health Scales.
This measure of students’ social and emotional functioning is aligned with state Social Emotional Learning standards and provides results used to guide instruction for all students and support for students experiencing emotional behavior concerns. This brief rating scale assessment is not a comprehensive diagnostic measure for classification of difficulties or disorders.
The SSIS SEL Brief + Mental Health Scales can be administered to students (self-assessment), teachers (answering items about each student), and parents (answering items about their children). Because social emotional functioning can change over time, periodic re-screening is thus used to continue to monitor students’ progress.
For more details and the research behind the SSIS SEL Brief + Mental Health Scales, visit ssiscolab.com.
Tiers of Support
Tier 1:
Tier 1 provides high-quality learning environments, evidence-based curricular and instructional practices, and a continuum of supports and interventions in general education classrooms.
Tier 2:
Tier 2 provides supplemental support and interventions that may be delivered in small-group instruction, provided in either the general classroom or during an intervention period. Interventions include evidence-based instructional practices and interventions that increase in intensity, frequency, and duration based on the review of data during regular progress monitoring intervals.
Tier 3:
Tier 3 provides intensive supports and interventions that may be delivered individually or in limited student groups and provided in/or outside of the classroom after the delivery of core instruction. There may be adaptations of support and interventions based on an individual student’s performance using data reviewed during frequent progress monitoring intervals.
For More Information
For more information, questions, comments, or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher, school-leader, or other staff and they can discuss or lead you to the appropriate professional.
Megan Kacin
MTSS Coordinator
mekacin@insightpaschool.org
Kristin Barrett
Supervisor of Interventionists
krbarrett@insightpaschool.org
Anthony Grande
Director of Assessment and Evaluation
angrande@insightpaschool.org