System of Supports

  • Spokane Public Schools believes that students need varying levels of support to find success. As a result, we use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports to address the Whole Child and connect students to interventions based on individual need.

    • Tier 1: Students are taught school-wide expectations and receive core academic instruction using a research-based core comprehensive curriculum in all areas.
    • Tier 2: Students who do not achieve benchmarks, or are not responding to universal supports, are provided additional evidence-based interventions beyond the core curriculum.
    • Tier 3: A small percentage of students require more intense instruction or support beyond the interventions in Tier 2 because they have not shown progress.

    School Intervention Team Process

    Each school has two teams to support students in their academic and behavioral development. The school-wide team focuses on Tier 1 programs and supports intended for all students. The intervention team identifies and monitors the use of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions for specific students.

    Once a student is assigned to the school’s intervention team, their progress is closely followed with a process that outlines interventions, academic performance, attendance, and behavior.

    • Step 1: Identify students needing support using data and input from teachers and families. This includes Social Emotional Learning Survey, Climate and Culture Survey, academic performance (grades, tests, etc.), attendance and behavior.
    • Step 2: Connect students to interventions and monitor their progress. Teachers, administrators, counselors and other school staff work together, in partnership with parents, to ensure students participate in the right interventions based on their individual level of need. The team then monitors how the student is progressing once interventions have begun. 
    • Step 3: Monitor students’ progress using the district early warning and monitoring system. SPS staff have access to a data system that communicates all available data points about a student.

    Key Performance Indicators

    Our Whole Child Focus is measured on a school-wide level with the use of key performance indicators identified for the elementary, middle, and high school level. Some KPI measures include:

    • State assessments in ELA and math
    • Percent chronically absent
    • Perception of climate and safety
    • Student perception of learning strategies
    • Percent passing all classes
    • Percent taking/passing Advanced Placement exams
    • SAT assessments in evidence-based reading and writing and math
    • Graduation rate

    Whole Child Support System Framework (MTSS)

    Life Skills Behavior

    Literacy

    Math

    Whole Child Focus Resources
mtss logo and explanation of tiers of supports, found in the page text.