Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
Peninsula School District believes that all students are capable of success and that students require differentiated supports and enrichment opportunities in order to reach their potential. PSD is in the process of implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) model of prevention, intervention, and enrichment. MTSS is designed to address students' academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs using a continuum of instructional supports and enrichment opportunities.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has identified essential components of a MTSS. The five components of the Washington MTSS, as identified by OSPI, are pictured in the graphic below. Visit the OSPI Multi-Tiered System of Support website for more information. MTSS is a framework designed to provide equitable access to education and meet the needs of all students by ensuring that schools optimize data-driven decision making, progress monitoring, and evidence-based practices and strategies with increasing intensity to sustain student growth. MTSS helps ensure that students benefit from nurturing environments and equitable access to universally designed instruction and supports. MTSS is not just about tiered interventions, but rather how all of the systems fit together to ensure a high quality education for all students.
In a Multi-tiered system, all students receive access to grade level content, curriculum, instruction and assessment in Tier I (core instruction). Tier I is designed to provide options for differentiated instruction and extension activities.
Effective core instruction reduces the number of students who require additional, Tier II support. Tier II is designed for a small number of students who require additional instruction with the goal of remediating skill deficits so that students can be successful in Tier I.
When Tier II supports are effectively designed and implemented, fewer students require Tier III intervention which is more explicit, focused on remediation of skills, is provided for a longer duration and occurs in smaller groups.