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    Multi-Tiered System of Support

    banner with three images and text Every Student Known and Supported

    Seattle Public Schools Multi-Tiered System of Support

    "If we know every student by story, strength, and need, we can then tailor our academic and behavioral approaches to ensure every student graduates prepared to succeed in Seattle."



    ~ Wyeth Jessee, Chief of Schools and Continuous Improvement

    A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) encompasses both the academic and social-emotional-behavioral demands of learning.

    Seattle Public Schools has made a shift in practice to emphasize integration of both academics and behavior as critical to student success. MTSS emphasizes the system of support, rather than interventions.

    MTSS is a key element of our Strategic Plan "Seattle Excellence" to support all learners and ensure equitable access to a robust, high quality education. MTSS provides a structure to address individual needs to maximize learning potential.

    Our work this year:

    A successful Multi-Tiered System of Support provides our District a structure for how central office and schools work together to improve the education experience for each and every student, allowing them to graduate prepared for career and community success.  Some of our priority work streams with an MTSS this year include:

    • Improving school climates so that every student feels safe, welcomed and understood
    • Addressing systemic and institutional inequities for our students of color furthest from educational justice
    • Strengthening Tier 2/3 supports for schools and students so that we have highly skilled employees who are able to address intense student needs
    • Providing tiered and differentiated support to schools based in data and aligned to the Strategic Plan and each school's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
    • Reducing suspensions and expulsions for students who identify as African American