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Moving to a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) requires deliberate implementation in order for it to work. After all, if the teachers in a school don’t monitor the same data or follow the same processes for intervention, then the inconsistency could sink the initiative.

And while ongoing training is essential for all staff, district leaders during the edLeader Panel “How to Build an MTSS Handbook for Your School or District” advocated for a well-thought-out MTSS handbook. With the right structure and maintenance, the handbook can lead to sustainability and success.

Key Steps to Creating an MTSS Handbook

Establish a clear mission and vision

Every staff member needs to understand and communicate the same definitions, methods, and goals for your district’s MTSS. This will be the cornerstone of your handbook because it’s the foundation for all of your processes to follow. And as part of your family education process, make sure that the mission and vision are a primary part of the discussion. Also, by having it in the handbook, they can access it at any time.

Set staff roles and responsibilities

Throughout the life of your MTSS, there are several key groups, such as those who develop the initial policies and those who oversee the implementation and maintenance of the program. Document all of these roles in the handbook, from who can make the initial referral to who’s in charge of following up with the family, so that everyone knows their part of the MTSS process. In addition, you should determine who will work on creating the handbook, which might be a different team from those who developed the policies. All school stakeholders should have a representative on this.

Determine the who, what, and how

In other words, who are the different audiences who will use the handbook, what are the use cases for when they will need the handbook, and how can you make it user friendly? This will help you decide what components to include, e.g., a section for parents/guardians, what information they need about your processes, and any additional resources. One of the best ways to think about this is to ask: In order for people to use this handbook for this purpose, what must it include?

Align your intervention strategies, progress monitoring, and data collection

Successful handbooks usually contain two key elements. First, there is a synopsis of each strategy for each tier that talks about the focus of the support, the population supported, assessments and curricula used in the school, location, personnel, etc. The second is a flow chart. Rooted in a student-centered approach, the flow chart shows the staff member what to do at each stage of intervention, helping create fidelity of implementation.

Although specific interventions may be personalized for individual students, the process by which the need is identified, intervention is assigned, and progress is assessed should be the same for all. Any staff member should be able to go to the handbook and look at the flow chart to understand when, where, why, and how they will support a student.

Explain how you ground your process in evidence

Actionable data–quantitative and qualitative–is essential to a successful implementation. The handbook should explain what data to collect and how. As important, data systems should be integrated across multiple domains, giving staff the whole picture about a child. MTSS is a team-based problem-solving model, and if everyone doesn’t have access to the data that they need based on their role, then the student could miss out on the help they need.

Include the implementation plan

Let teachers, staff, and families know what parts of your MTSS program you will be rolling out and when. For instance, maybe in the first year, the school will focus on specific grade bands or just on the academic aspect. The handbook should let them know what to expect as each component is put into action.

Reassess and revise

The MTSS handbook, like most school documents, should be a living, changing entity. For instance, as the implementation moves forward, you might need to update flow charts based on teacher feedback on how the process is working. Or, parents might have observations about the system to address, or even just comments on elements they would like to have in the handbook. Have a team that is responsible for making sure the handbook is up to date.

Every student deserves the support they need academically, emotionally, and socially. MTSS is an efficient problem-solving model when everyone is working together. The MTSS handbook must outline the roles, processes, and expectations to support a successful implementation.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, How to Build an MTSS Handbook for Your School or District, sponsored by Branching Minds.

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Branching Minds is a leading K-12 educational technology platform designed to streamline the work of MTSS and make personalized learning sustainable. By integrating data and providing actionable insights, our platform empowers teachers to meet the unique needs, strengths, and challenges of every student. Branching Minds simplifies the MTSS process, giving teachers the tools and guidance needed to personalize support, freeing up their time to focus on building meaningful, positive relationships with students.

Article by Stacey Pusey, based on this edLeader Panel