Behavioral, Social, and Emotional Support

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

What is a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)?
A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a model that school systems use to help all students in academic and non-academic areas. It serves as a roadmap that focuses on identifying challenges early and providing extra help to each student based on what they need. MTSS provides effective teaching practices through three levels: support for all students (Tier 1), support for small groups of students (Tier 2), and support for individual students (Tier 3). The MTSS model ensures that every student gets the help they need to do their best in all academics and non-academics at school.

Cleveland City Schools MTSS Vision Statement
Cleveland City Schools is committed to making sure every student does well in both academics and behavior using a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) that involves everyone – district leaders, school administrators, teachers, and parents. Through effective ways of teaching and decision-making, our focus is on preventing issues early and giving extra help when needed. This way, we make sure all students have a fair chance to do their best in all academic and non-academic areas at school.

ccs

Tennessee MTSS Model

Contact

Dr. Alicia Kahrs
Well-Being Specialist
akahrs@clevelandschools.org
423-250-5804

Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum:

Capturing Kids Hearts
Superflex: A Superhero Social Thinking
Zones of Regulations
DBT Skills in Schools for Teens

For More Information on Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS):

Center on PBIS
TDOE RTI Framework

What is Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS)?
PBIS is a part of the overarching MTSS, providing tiered behavior support for all students. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) is an evidence-based framework that schools can use to create a safe and positive learning environment for all students. It focuses on identifying, teaching, and reinforcing positive behaviors in students as well as using proactive strategies to address problematic behaviors. Overall, the purpose of PBIS is to improve outcomes—social, emotional, and academic—for every student. PBIS focuses on prevention over punishment by creating a behavioral system in which desired behaviors are taught and reinforced and undesired or problematic behaviors are discouraged.

What is Social and Emotional Learning?
|SEL is the process through which all people acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

Why is Social and Emotional Learning Important?
SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities (CASEL). 

What are the 5 Social Emotional Core Competencies?

Self Awareness

Understanding one’s own feelings, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Self Management

The ability to manage one’s feelings, emotions, thoughts, and actions/behaviors.

Social Awareness

The ability to understand the perspective of others (thoughts, feelings, actions) and empathize with others.

Relationship Skills

The ability to establish, maintain, and restore healthy and positive relationships with others.

Responsible Decision Making

The ability to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.

What is a Universal Behavior Screener?

Cleveland City Schools has adopted the Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS-IE) for a universal behavior screener. A universal behavior screener is a tool that helps us assess various aspects of your student's behavioral, social and emotional skills. A universal behavior screener provides valuable insights into their strengths and areas where they may benefit from additional support. By understanding your student's behavioral, social and emotional needs, we can tailor our efforts to provide the best support for their well-being. Using a universal behavior screener is a common practice in school systems that utilize a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) approach to both academic and non-academic instruction and intervention.

What are the Benefits of Using a Universal Behavior Screener?
We believe supporting your student's behavioral, social and emotional development is as important as their academic success. By implementing the SRSS-IE, we are taking proactive steps to ensure every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive in school and beyond. Information from this tool will assist schools in providing universal behavioral, social, and emotional support for all students. This tool will help us create a more caring and inclusive school community where every student can reach their full potential.

Your Consent Matters
The SRSS-IE will be completed by your student’s teacher and the information will be stored securely in PowerSchool and kept confidential to ensure your student’s privacy. Your active consent is required for us to complete the SRSS-IE with your student. By providing your consent, you enable us to gather vital information that will significantly enhance our ability to support your student’s behavioral, social and emotional growth. Parents/guardians are given the opportunity to provide their active consent when completing their student’s online registration in PowerSchool. For more information on completing your student’s online registration, please visit this website.

Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns about the universal screening process or the active consent process, please contact our Well-Being Specialist, Dr. Alicia Kahrs, at akahrs@clevelandschools.org. Copies of the screening tool are available for review upon request.

Supporting Your Student at Home
Did you know that you are your child's first and most important teacher of social and emotional skills? As your child's first social emotional teacher, you have a unique opportunity to guide your child's emotional development from the very beginning, and continue to do so as they grow and mature.

“Parents and families are critical partners in helping their children develop social and emotional know-how. They can model the kinds of skills, attitudes, and behaviors we want all students to master. And they can be important advocates for SEL at school." -CASEL.org

Learn more about social and emotional learning in this video: What is SEL? CASEL Video