Lansing Sun

MTSS coaches from throughout the district give an update on the elementary schools at a recent Haslett Public Schools Board of Education meeting, giving high marks to the process.

MTSS stands for multitiered system of supports, meaning that educators have a wide framework of supports to meet all the needs of all students in all the ways they need, including social, emotional, academic and behavioral. This framework is utilized to make sure all students have full access to an education and can learn and grow as much as possible with their peers.

“Five components of MTA success would include leaders, effective leadership teams at the school, tiered systems of delivery, comprehensive screening and assessment throughout the year, tiered supports and interventions throughout the year, and then continuous data based decision making," Wilkshire Early Childhood Center MTSS coach Catherine Mahler said. "If we can get that framework implemented and optimized, it eliminates the barriers to student success.” 

The MTSS group has a coach at each of the elementary schools that help in multiple areas. They oversee all the assessments and help interpret and apply the data results. They also help build leadership among and within the teachers, provide interventions funded by Title One and provide instructional coaching in literacy instruction and essentials. 

Essentially, they respond to and fill in any needs in student development and achievement and professional development.

The coaches also presented some of their assessment data to the board, which will take these assessments at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to show student growth. 

In each of the cohorts from each grade over the past five years, there is a general trend of improvement throughout the year, with a small disruption from COVID-19. The district is using the data from the pandemic to focus on where to help kids catch up in each grade. Some students need more math, others more reading.