This study used a convergent mixed-method design and a pragmatic approach to examine how professional development (PD) affected teachers' confidence in their abilities to use the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework in a rural Mississippi middle school. Grounded in Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the study aimed to answer two research…

A problem exists in NC Montessori schools with effective data analysis for specific learning disabilities (SLD) placement. The purpose of this study was to identify administrators' and teachers' perceptions of data collection and analysis within multitiered systems of support (MTSS) in a Montessori school. Fixsen's implementation science theory…

The growing understanding of the deleterious effects of childhood trauma has led policymakers to encourage the integration of trauma-informed system approaches into educational settings. The National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network has created a framework that integrates trauma-responsive school policies, practices, and programs at each tier of…

Purpose: System reforms ask educators within and across organizational levels to interlace their individual practices into a collective practice so they can enact a different, more equitable schooling system for students. System reforms require educators to coordinate their work with their colleagues in ways they are not trained, incentivized, or…

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support is a framework utilized by schools when implementing evidence-based teaching practices to target the academic and social emotional needs of students. This action research study sought to investigate the successes and challenges educators experience when implementing MTSS in urban elementary schools. Participants and…

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered system of support designed to provide increasing levels of intervention and enrichment based on student need. Research suggests that although RTI is regularly utilized in elementary schools, secondary school leaders are less likely to implement if due to the unique challenges of a secondary school…

Students are experiencing greater levels of mental and behavioral-health issues that are affecting their educational experiences. Schools are providing services to try and address these issues with lack of resources and knowledge. Universal screeners can be a useful tool for schools to not only screen students for these concerns that don't have…

There are many integrated Multi-tiered Systems of Support (iMTSS), which we refer to as integrated-tiered systems. These systems hold benefits for students with disabilities, as such systems have the potential to facilitate inclusion and focus the collective expertise of educators committed to meeting students' multiple needs. The Comprehensive,…

Efforts to improve outcomes for students amidst a climate of school accountability have led to a myriad of education initiatives, perhaps none as profound and widespread as the tiered intervention models offered by the RTI and MTSS frameworks. While those who advocate for tiered intervention models argue that these systems bring support to…

Since the emergence of COVID-19, few studies have examined the exploration of trauma-informed care (TIC) practices within schools in a post-COVID-19 environment. While the literature on COVID-19 and its effects is growing, there is limited information about how the implementation of TIC practices within multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS)…

The current study examined the effects of using a teleconsultation model called ECHO-MTSS on self-efficacy of implementing aspects of data-based individualization (DBI) with 38 educators. Self-efficacy was measured with a 15-item survey that assessed five different areas of the DBI process (i.e., intervention protocol, progress monitoring,…

The phenomenological study explored how effectively the MTSS process was implemented pre-COVID and post-COVID based on participants' lived experiences. The participants were educators with 10+ years of experience who shared their perspectives about the MTSS process before, during, and after COVID. The participant interviews revealed that many…

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework was established as a comprehensive, equitable approach for addressing urban students' academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. Still, confusion surrounded its implementation. On returning to in-person instruction, urban educators have been challenged to…

This study investigated the impact of professional development support structures for enhancing teacher mastery of Response to Intervention (RTI) in an urban elementary school setting. With a focus on effective implementation strategies, the research explored the role of tailored professional development initiatives in equipping educators with the…

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Its Impact on Student Academic Achievement in Elementary Schools" investigates the gap in understanding how elementary teachers perceive PBIS's effectiveness in boosting student academic performance amidst behavioral challenges. This phenomenological…