Capitol News

MTSS coaches throughout the Haslett school district recently gave an update on the elementary schools within the district.

MTSS stands for "multi-tiered system of support" and means that they have a whole framework of support to meet all the needs of every student: social, emotional, academic and behavioral. This framework is utilized to make sure all students have full access to education and can learn and grow as much as possible with their peers.

"Five components of MTA success would include leaders, effective leadership teams at the school, tiered systems of delivery, comprehensive screening and assessment throughout the year, tiered supports and interventions throughout the year, and then continuous data-based decision making," Wilkshire Early Childhood Center MTSS coach Catherine Mahler said at the Dec. 12 school board meeting. "So and if we can get that framework implemented and optimized, it eliminates the barriers to student success."

The MTSS group has a coach present at each of the elementary school buildings to help in multiple areas. The coaches oversee all the assessments and help interpret and apply the data results, they help build leadership among and within the teachers, provide interventions funded by title one and provide instructional coaching in literacy instruction and essentials. Essentially, they respond to and fill in any needs in student development and achievement and 

The coaches also presented some of their assessment data to the board. They take these assessments at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to show student growth. In each of the cohorts from each grade over the past five years, there is a general trend of improvement throughout the year, with a small disruption from COVID. The data from COVID is being used to focus on where to help kids catch up in each grade, with some needing math more and some needing reading.