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7.1: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Progress Monitoring and Universal Screening

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    319087
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    mtss.jpgThe Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children’s 2021 position statement defines a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework for early childhood as an integrated, tiered approach to providing high-quality teaching and responsive caregiving for all young children. MTSS emphasizes differentiated supports based on data-driven decision-making to address developmental, academic, and social-emotional needs across diverse settings and populations (Division for Early Childhood 2021, 2–3).

    Core principles of MTSS include:

    1. all children can learn when provided with high-quality instruction;
    2. universal access to the general curriculum;
    3. focus on academic and developmental goals;
    4. early identification of delays;
    5. collaborative, evidence-based interventions; and
    6. continuous progress monitoring (Carta and Young 2019, 3).

    The MTSS framework promotes a whole-child approach, recognizing the interdependence of developmental domains and advocating for blended practices that integrate early intervention, early childhood education, and special education strategies (National Academies Press 2016; Grisham-Brown and Hemmeter 2017).

    What does MTSS look like in practice?

    High-quality use of a MTSS framework includes: (a) universal screening to identify children at risk before significant delays occur, (b) differentiated goals and outcomes based on data to match instruction to needs, (c) tiered instruction, ranging from universal supports (Tier 1) to targeted (Tier 2) and individualized interventions (Tier 3), and (4) progress monitoring to ensure responsiveness and adjust support intensity (Grisham-Brown and Pretti-Frontczak 2011; Buzhardt et al. 2012).

    Universal Screening


    This page titled 7.1: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Progress Monitoring and Universal Screening is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gina Peterson and Emily Elam.