How to provide quality instruction for students at all levels is among the biggest questions facing many in education today. In wrestling with this crisis, schools across the United States have implemented a number of programs to ensure no child is truly left behind.

A key element of these efforts has been the introduction of Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS) in schools around the country. MTSS is an educational and behavioral framework that identifies struggling students and provides them with crucial support. The framework emphasizes universal screening systems and support at different levels to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of students. At every step, interventions are backed by rigorous and evidence-based research and data on education.

NJTSS: A Tiered System

Based on the fundamental components of multi-tiered approaches is the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS), a statewide system of support for all students.

Before getting into NJTSS, it might be helpful to discuss what NJTSS is not. The NJTSS is not a specific program or product that parents can purchase or enroll into. It is not a specific step-by-step set of actions to be undertaken in certain scenarios either. Rather, NJTSS serves as a model for how to achieve success more broadly with students at different levels. To address the complex and evolving needs of struggling students, this framework offers support at a number of tiers, outlined below (New Jersey Department of Education):

Tier 1: Universal Supports – Core instruction here is evidence-based and informed by best practices in education today. High quality instructional material and resources are utilized, grounded in research and implemented consistently in all classrooms. This means students who are ESL learners or those with Individualized Education Plans are also targeted in this tier.

Tier 2: Targeted Supports – A second tier provides additional instruction beyond the core program for select students. These services are delivered to struggling students who are identified as needing additional support. Typically these supports and interventions occur in structured, small-group settings. Supports can include supplemental instruction complementing core instruction and small-group teaching to address specific skill gaps. These interventions can increase in frequency and depth depending on student progress, which is closely monitored.

Tier 3: Intensive Interventions – Students requiring more specific or intense supports receive highly individualized instruction at this level. These supports can include more intensive instruction that is tailored to individual needs. Students struggling with severe dyslexia, for instance, might receive more frequent one-on-one reading instruction. Interventions such as these are informed by data on a student’s growth. This allows educators to remain dynamic and flexible in the face of students’ evolving needs. Regular monitoring of progress is therefore just as important at this level as it is in tier two work.

Back to Basics

Of course this sounds like a lot of work! To ensure NJTSS truly delivers as a framework, some basic components must be present. On a foundational level, this includes (New Jersey Department of Education):

1. Effective leadership – Administrators, principals, superintendents, and directors need to maintain a larger vision centered around ensuring high standards of support.

2. Family engagement – More and more, families play an active role in education. Engaging families and the larger community allows for greater understanding of a child’s needs and smoother functioning of multi-tiered systems.

3. Positive school culture – Establishing a culture that recognizes the individual needs of diverse student bodies is key to ensuring continued support for NJTSS as a framework.

These are standards involving stakeholders and the broader culture that must be achieved outside the classroom. In terms of implementation itself, NJTSS relies on a set of six instructional components (New Jersey Department of Education):

• High quality learning environments

• Universal screening

• Data-based decision making

• Collaborative problem-solving

• Progress monitoring

• Staff professional development

NJTSS in Practice

Research shows that multi-tiered support can achieve real results when implemented effectively. Indeed, a study of schools that rigorously followed multi-tiered behavioral protocols found those institutions had “significantly fewer suspension events than matched comparison schools” (Scott et al., 2019). A systematic review of global studies finds that behavior has improved in international contexts as well, particularly in elementary schools that implemented multi-tiered interventions (Brack et al., 2023). There is also evidence of MTSS frameworks improving outcomes when teams seek active feedback from students (International MTSS Association, n.d.).

As outlined in NJTSS foundational components, parents play an important role in successful implementation. This involvement can extent far beyond simply receiving periodic updates and includes engaging with teachers, understanding key strategies, and continuing these practices at home. Besides achieving consistency, collaboration with your child’s school can also help ensure that interventions are tailored to your child’s unique needs, increasing the likelihood of meaningful progress.

So how can you know if your child’s school is implementing NJTSS? Watching for protocols associated with multi-tier support systems in practice is key. If your child’s school features universal screening, second and third-tier interventions, and monitoring of student progress, some sort of MTSS is likely in place (International MTSS Association, n.d.). Communicating with faculty is also a good way to assess a school’s level of support. Simply asking your child’s teacher how struggling students are identified and what resources are provided to them can be helpful. Educators implementing a solid NJTSS program should be able to answer these questions clearly and with reference to established protocols.

Working Together

Ensuring that all children have the opportunities to succeed remains a key task for educators and policymakers across the country. Parents can play an important role in tackling this challenge by staying informed, communicating with faculty, and monitoring progress. Ultimately, the stronger the partnership between parents and educators, the more effective an NJTSS program becomes, giving every child the opportunity to thrive in school and beyond.

_____

References

Nitz, J., Brack, F., Hertel, S., Krull, J., Stephan, H., Hennemann, T., & Hanisch, C. (2023). Multi tiered systems of support with focus on behavioral modification in elementary schools: A systematic review. Heliyon, 9(6), e17506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17506

International MTSS Association. (n.d.). What is MTSS. https://www.mtssassociation.org/what-is-mtss

New Jersey Department of Education. (n.d.). NJTSS. https://www.nj.gov/education/safety/njtss/

Scott, T. M., Gage, N. A., Hirn, R. G., Lingo, A. S., & Burt, J. (2019). An examination of the association between MTSS implementation fidelity measures and student outcomes. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 63(4), 308-316.

Understood for All, Inc. (n.d.). MTSS: What you need to know. Understood.org. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/mtss-what-you-need-to-know