August 23, 2019 Message from Mr. Dan Wessel, Interim Superintendent, regarding MTSS
USD 469 Parents,
The 2019-20 school year is off to a great start! This year in USD 469 we are pleased to update you about our continued efforts to provide additional instructional, behavioral, and social emotional supports for all children in the district. This framework is called a Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS). MTSS is a multi-step process of providing instruction and support to promote the academic, behavioral, and social emotional success of all children.
Throughout our MTSS process each student’s progress is monitored, and the results are used to make decisions about further instruction and intervention. The first step of our MTSS process includes an academic screener, FASTBRIDGE. The screener gives teachers and teams a quick measure of where students are at in comparison to the grade level standards. This will help teachers and teams plan for delivering instruction in their core class time as well as when they work with students who may need more support. Screening will begin across the district on August 26, 2019. Over the next two weeks we will complete the fall academic screening process. Your school will contact you if your student is found to need additional supports to be successful.
The MTSS process has three tiers; each tier provides differing levels of support. As we analyze scores from the academic screeners, students are provided the supports described below. There is a different structure for providing this support in each of the buildings.
In Tier 1, all students receive high quality curriculum and instruction in the general education classroom and are taught positive behavioral expectations.
In Tier 2, the school provides supplemental instructional support for academics and behavior, usually in small groups, to students who need additional support.
In Tier 3, intensive instructional support through one on one or small group settings is provided to students with the greatest needs. More customized interventions may be implemented through student centered planning.
We are excited to continue implementing our revised MTSS initiatives in USD 469 this
year. We believe it provides the foundation for success for all children. For more detailed information on MTSS, please feel free to contact us at your student’s school or go to https://ksdetasn.org/kpirc/kpirc-resources. This web site will provide you with ways to support your child’s learning at home and answer any questions you might have about MTSS.
Sincerely,
Dan Wessel
Interim Superintendent USD469