Ah, the sweet sounds of “back to school.” If you work with preschool or elementary students, though, those sounds might include a screaming kindergartener who refuses to enter the classroom, the yelp of a teacher as a youngster surprises her with a swift kick, or the walkie notification that a student has escaped the building and is on top of the playground equipment. Tiny people can cause big disruptions!

Success in school and in life is not about being the smartest in the room; it’s about how well you can manage yourself and navigate the challenges you face every day.  Executive functioning—the ability to manage tasks, time, and emotions—plays a crucial role in students’ growth and learning. But what is the best way to help students develop these skills? One key lies in enhancing our own executive functioning skills, creating an environment in which we intentionally practice and model these soft skills in our daily interactions with students and colleagues. 

It’s your job to pull all the pieces together—and WOW are there a lot of pieces! From curriculum planning and enrollment management, to staffing and addressing the diverse needs of students and teachers, to connecting with the community and advocating for your campus. Underneath it all is a well of data that can inform your next steps. Using data effectively is a crucial leadership skill.  Academic assessments, intervention monitoring, attendance and behavioral data help you make informed decisions that drive school improvement and boost student success …. IF you know what to look at, how, and when. 

Do some groups of students in your district remain at higher risk for academic failure or harsh discipline, despite the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) you’ve worked so hard to put in place? If so, screening and tiering practices may be part of the problem . . . and part of the solution!

Curriculum changes, unfamiliar technology platforms, shiny new devices, ambitious district initiatives—sound familiar to you? Starting a new school year often feels like trying to juggle while riding a roller coaster! 

"We have to think about tutoring as part of the MTSS structures. It’s one more tool in the toolbox, ensuring consistent and reliable support for students."​ - Janet Wilson, Littera Education.

Addressing Tier 3 behavior can be challenging, but utilizing a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) can make successful intervention planning both possible and practical in any size district.

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Hooray! You've already laid the groundwork for MTSS success by establishing a clear vision for the work in collaboration with your colleagues. The initial hurdle of getting systems off the ground and providing basic training for staff members on board has been completed. But now, as you move toward full implementation and continuous growth, you're stepping into the big leagues.

Years ago, as part of a team opening a new high school, our principal emphasized the importance of site-based decision-making. With input from our leadership team, we dedicated considerable thought to our master schedule. Our principal reminded us that scheduling reflects our priorities, leading us to adopt a nonconventional schedule to support deep learning for all students. We decided on a 4x4 block schedule but heard the concerns raised by stakeholder groups, so we modified it. We alternated classes by quarter instead of semester. We also added an extra "floating block" in 9th and 10th grade English to offer additional literacy instruction for all students.

So, you have identified students needing a support plan, created goals, selected and implemented appropriate interventions, and collected data using a progress monitoring tool or assessment. Fantastic! These are all necessary steps to supporting students through your Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).