About
The MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) framework empowers school districts to foster equitable, inclusive learning environments through a structured, evidence-based approach. Rooted in a public-health model, MTSS strengthens the infrastructure of support across academic, behavioral, and social-emotional domains—ensuring every student benefits from nurturing, differentiated instruction and culturally-responsive practices.
At the heart of MTSS are five interrelated components that build capacity and sustain impact: team-driven shared leadership, data-based decision-making, family and community engagement, evidence-based tiered supports, and structured implementation stages. This framework emphasizes identifying and dismantling systemic biases, leveraging community and linguistic strengths, and embedding inclusive practices to create learning environments where all students, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities, can thrive.
Successful MTSS implementation relies on ongoing professional learning, coaching, and collaborative structures across districts, schools, and communities. District leadership teams receive coordinated support via OSPI and regional Educational Service Districts (ESDs), including access to continual learning opportunities, fidelity tools (e.g., Tiered Fidelity Inventories for PBIS and Reading), and the Integrated Student Supports (ISS) protocol — a planning and coordination process that ensures state and federal requirements are woven into school improvement efforts. These resources build capacity over time and ensure MTSS becomes a sustainable, high-impact system for student success.