This page provides information and links to resources to support schools and districts establishing MTSS.

1. The Department shall, to the extent money is available, establish a statewide framework for providing and coordinating integrated student supports for pupils enrolled in public schools and the families of such pupils. The statewide framework must:
   • (a) Establish minimum Standard for the provision of integrated student supports by school districts and charter schools. Such Standard must be designed to allow a school district or charter school the flexibility to address the unique needs of the pupils enrolled in the school district or charter school.
   • (b) Establish a protocol for providing and coordinating integrated student supports. Such a protocol must be designed to:
   • (1) Support a school-based approach to promoting the success of all pupils by establishing a means to identify barriers to academic achievement and educational attainment of all pupils and a method for intervening and providing coordinated supports to reduce those barriers;
   • (2) Encourage the provision of education in a manner that is centered around pupils and their families and is culturally and linguistically appropriate;
   • (3) Encourage providers of integrated student supports to collaborate to improve academic achievement and educational attainment, including, without limitation, by:
   • (I) Engaging in shared decision-making;
   • (II) Establishing a referral process that reduces duplication of services and increases efficiencies in the manner in which barriers to academic achievement and educational attainment are addressed by such providers; and
   • (III) Establishing productive working relationships between such providers;
   • (4) Encourage collaboration between the Department and local educational agencies to develop training regarding:
   • (I) Best practices for providing integrated student supports;
   • (II) Establishing effective integrated student support teams comprised of persons or governmental entities providing integrated student supports;
   • (III) Effective communication between providers of integrated student supports; and
   • (IV) Compliance with applicable state and federal law; and
   • (5) Support statewide and local organizations in their efforts to provide leadership, coordination, technical assistance, professional development and advocacy to improve access to integrated student supports and expand upon existing integrated student supports that address the physical, emotional and educational needs of pupils.
   • (c) Include integration and coordination across school- and community-based providers of integrated student support services through the establishment of partnerships and systems that support this framework.

This framework provides guidance to school districts to develop an integrated and coherent framework of academic, behavioral, social, and emotional supports in a single delivery system of interventions.