Florida's Multi-Tiered System of Supports

As Florida’s Phase I, Implementation for Problem-solving and Response to Instruction/Intervention, came to a close in 2011, Phase II of the statewide implementation of a MTSS has emerged. The statewide Florida Positive Behavior Support and Florida Problem-Solving/RtI Projects are merging their efforts with Technology and Learning Connections for Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning to support district-wide implementation of an integrated (academic and behavior) data-based planning and problem-solving system.

Florida’s Phase II, state-level priorities include:

• Consensus Building
• Re-organize, recommit, and establish a coordinated way of work for state teams and advisory groups to represent each FDOE instructional division, accountability, university/college partners, state-wide projects, and parent organizations
• Further develop a shared knowledge, foundational beliefs, and commitment across state-level personnel to integrate problem-solving and supporting the full implementation of a MTSS
• Collaborate with policy makers to provide leadership and facilitate policy-level changes that support implementation of a MTSS through a shared vision and written commitment disseminated to all school district superintendents
• Gather data to identify the assumptions, beliefs, skills, and professional development needs of state-level personnel in relation to scaling up implementation of a MTSS across the state
• Consistently promote the shared vision of one system meeting the needs of ALL students with MTSS as the platform for integration of initiatives such as Standards-based Instruction, Collegial Learning (i.e., Lesson Studies), Teacher/Leader Proficiency Model, and continuous school improvement.
• Infrastructure Development
• Link State level teams to Regional Administrative Unit:, State-level projects, and District Based Leadership Teams by establishing a clear and functional operating and communication system to ensure that the entities that comprise the infrastructure are able to implement a statewide MTSS in the most efficient and effective manner. As a result, District Based Leadership Teams will
• Assign and provide personnel with the requisite knowledge and experience to support coordination and implementation of MTSS across the district.
• Support the capacity development and sustainability of the implementation of evidenced-based practices at both the district and school levels.
• Support the development and implementation of district plans that ensure the integration of general and special education resources and expertise resulting in successful implementation of MTSS at the school level.
• Create and maintain the structure and responsibility for the implementation of Florida’s MTSS statewide by establishing state-level work groups to address critical training and technical assistance  needs for districts towards scaling-up MTSS in the areas of  program evaluation model/process, leadership/teaming, coaching, secondary implementation, PK-12 alignment, data-based problem-solving, and family/community engagement.
• Create and maintain the structure and responsibility for the implementation Florida’s MTSS statewide by developing a training and technical assistance delivery system through the reorganization of inter-project staff  to support enhanced collaboration and coordination for the delivery of integrated training and technical assistance at the district level, development of district level needs assessment, development of a technical assistance protocol, and the use of technology for collection and dissemination of information.
• Implementation
• Statewide MTSS projects including PS/RtI, PBS, and the Technology and Learning Connections collaborative will provide training and technical assistance support by utilizing district-level needs assessment data to determine training and technical assistance supports to be delivered, developing an inter-project strategic plan to address district needs based on needs assessment data,  collaborating on supporting district’s efforts to implement their plan to scale-up MTSS as needed, providing necessary training and technical assistance from inter-project collaborative staff to district based leadership teams, and evaluating
• Effectiveness of training and technical assistance by inter-project collaborative staff
• District level outcomes/impacts