BLOG SERIES: EFFECTIVE MTSS
Step 3: Creating an MTSS/PBIS Handbook for Training Purposes
Part 3 of virtual learning expert and Pulse user Chris Loiselle’s blog series
You’ve researched the needs of your students. You’ve involved your staff in identifying the best way to support your students in those areas of need. You’ve taken the time to create a solid list of support strategies. Now what?
It’s time to begin the process of creating an MTSS Handbook. Before you move to staff training, you must have available a helpful guide for staff to refer to as they begin implementing your MTSS model. There are many benefits to creating such a tool:
- It helps you as an administrator and leader think through all of the important ingredients in an effective MTSS model.
- It helps to refresh you and your team on the most recent research and articles around MTSS practice and process.
- It provides you the training structure needed to ensure that you are covering everything needed.
- It provides your staff a valuable reference resource.
And many other benefits.
The school we evaluated prepared a very thorough resource. Based on conversations with teaching and support staff it became evident that MTSS is not a highly focused area in an educator’s formal education. This meant that they would need to start the training from scratch. An excerpt of the index of their MTSS Handbook follows:
They started the handbook by describing MTSS and providing the reasons for developing it. They then moved into describing the problem solving process entered into when evaluating support options for students. This section came with specific examples to help illustrate the process. Next on their list was the record keeping and monitoring process required in order to ensure fidelity in your MTSS model. They ended the handbook with additional, staff created, resources available to assist in the process. Once completed, this tool became the ‘hub’ of the MTSS implementation wheel and helped define the training process, which we will discuss next!
Since 2011 Chris Loiselle has worked as building administrator, CFO, and Chief Strategic Officer for Success Virtual Learning Centers and Berrien Springs Public Schools, where he is currently filling the Director of Quality Assurance role. While working at Success, Chris was instrumental in the development of the Pulse student support software. His passion is working in K-12 managing e-learning centers and building software to help improve virtual learning outcomes.
Chris first presented this 6-step process for effective MTSS at the Digital Learning Annual Conference in Atlanta, in February 2022.
His goal is to be able to help people prosper and succeed in today’s challenging educational environment.