Nuts & Bolts: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support A Basic Guide to Implementing Preventative Practice in Our Schools & Community

It's no surprise, systematic change from a reactionary refer-test-place model to that of a preventative three-tiered service delivery model is difficult! For those with much experience with Response to Intervention (RtI) to those with little experience, there are daunting challenges, alterations in educational roles, and a sense of urgency. Despite all the aforementioned factors, RtI has garnered considerable support across the nation for allocating resources more effectively, keeping educational funds replete, reducing special education rates, and providing a better opportunity than ever for students to succeed academically. For all these reasons and many more, RtI became law in NYS in 2012 and provided districts with set guidelines to follow. Unfortunately, RtI models implemented incorrectly or with little planning leads to seemingly insurmountable challenges, a sense of defeat, and confusion for even the most resilient of schools and organizations. As a result, this manual has been developed to provide brief guidance, support, and proper implementation for not only RtI but for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Under the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support model, the familiar three-tiered RtI triangle has been utilized to simply, unify, and delineate best evidence-based practices for attendance, academics (RtI), behavior (SWPBIS) social-emotional concerns (SWPBIS), and suicide prevention. Additionally, descriptions and set protocols for implementing intervention efforts have been suggested across the aforementioned areas. Together, we can all support one another in welcoming Multi-Tiered Systems of Support into our schools and make alterations to procedures as we learn and grow together. This document's interface is interactive, when you see blue text, you can click it to access certain points within the document and resources from the internet, such as the table of contents or NYASP's website. You can even click the NYASP logo to access the New York Association of School Psychologist's main page.