The MTSS implementation provides for a Multi-Tiered System of Support in each elementary and secondary school, to ensure every student has an equitable opportunity to graduate from high school prepared for further education, work, and citizenship.

MTSS is built on a strong foundation of six critical components, which have been vetted through North Carolina practitioners and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. (MTSS: Six Critical Components)

1. Leadership

The building principal, assistant principal(s), and school leadership team:                         

• Engage staff in ongoing professional development for implementing MTSS
• Plan strategically for MTSS implementation
• Model a problem-solving process for school improvement
• Communicate a vision and mission to school staff                                      
• Provide resources for planning and implementing instruction and intervention
• Ensure that staff have the data needed for data-based problem solving

2. Building the Capacity/Infrastructure for Implementation

School-wide capacity and infrastructure include:                                                                     

• Ongoing professional development and coaching with an emphasis on data-based problem solving and multi-tiered instruction and intervention
• Scheduling that allows staff to plan and implement targeted instruction and systems of support
• Processes and procedures for engaging in data-based problem solving 

3. Communication and Collaboration

This communication must:                                                                                                         

• Include stakeholders in planning and providing continuous feedback
• Build the infrastructure to communicate and work with families and other community partners
• Increase the likelihood that innovative practices will be implemented and sustained

4. Data-Based Problem Solving

• The use of data-based problem solving for student outcomes across content areas, grade levels, and systems of support
• The use of problem-solving to address barriers to school-wide implementation of MTSS
• The four-step problem-solving approach includes: 1) identifying the goals and objectives to be attained, 2) identifying possible reasons why the desired goals are not being attained, 3) developing a plan for implementing evidence-based strategies to attain goals, and 4) evaluating the effectiveness of the plan

5. Three-Tiered Instructional/Intervention Model

• Tier 1:   The instruction all students get and is delivered with a standard protocol approach utilizing what we know to be best practices for all learners.
• Tier 2: Supplemental systems that allow for targeted instruction provided to students not meeting benchmarks
• Tier 3: Intensive systems that allow for targeted, intensive instruction for students showing significant barriers to learning the skills required for school success.

6. Data Evaluation

• School staff understands and has access to data sources that address the purposes of assessment
• Procedures and protocols for administering assessments and data use allow school staff to use student data to make educational decisions
• Data on the fidelity of MTSS implementation allow school leadership to examine the current practices and make changes for improving MTSS implementation