How to Bring MTSS and PBIS Into Your School: Training & Resources
- INcompassing Education
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Across the country, schools are searching for ways to meet the diverse academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of every student. But managing all those layers of support while juggling limited time and resources can feel overwhelming.
That’s why many districts are turning to MTSS and PBIS. Together, these frameworks help schools create systems that are proactive, consistent, and focused on the whole child.
If your school is ready to take the next step, this guide will walk you through what MTSS in education looks like, how to begin implementation, and where to find the training and resources needed for success.
What Is MTSS in Education?
MTSS, short for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, is a comprehensive, data-driven framework that ensures every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional help they need to thrive.
In other words, MTSS is not just another initiative. It’s a way of organizing how your entire school functions.
The MTSS framework is built on three key principles:
Prevention over reaction: Schools use universal screening and data analysis to identify needs early.
Tiered levels of support: Students receive increasing levels of intervention depending on their needs.
Collaboration and consistency: Teachers, administrators, and support staff work together to provide ongoing, cohesive help.
When implemented well, MTSS in education bridges the gap between general and special education, strengthens school climate, and improves outcomes for all learners.
How PBIS Fits Within MTSS
While MTSS covers academics, social-emotional learning, and behavior, PBIS, which stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, focuses specifically on building positive schoolwide behavior systems.
Think of it this way:
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is the overall framework, and PBIS is one essential component inside it—the behavior and climate piece.
Together, MTSS and PBIS ensure that schools address both academic and behavioral barriers. Teachers gain tools to teach expectations, reinforce positive actions, and provide support before problems escalate.
This integration builds schools that are not only high-performing, but also safe, inclusive, and emotionally supportive.
Step 1: Build Staff Understanding
Before implementation begins, it’s critical that everyone—teachers, administrators, counselors, and paraprofessionals—understands the purpose behind the work.
Start with MTSS training that explains:
What MTSS is and how it connects to your school’s goals
The difference between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 supports
How academic and behavioral interventions fit together
The role of PBIS in reinforcing positive school culture
A clear understanding builds buy-in. When staff know why change is happening, they’re far more likely to commit to making it work.
Tip: Consider beginning with a professional development workshop or a series of coaching sessions focused on MTSS education fundamentals.
Step 2: Establish a Leadership Team
Successful implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) depends on collaboration. Form a team that includes representation from different roles—administrators, classroom teachers, counselors, special educators, and behavior specialists.
This leadership team should:
Review schoolwide data on academics, attendance, and discipline
Define goals and benchmarks for MTSS and PBIS implementation
Identify what’s already working and where gaps exist
Create a communication plan to keep staff informed and engaged
Your team becomes the backbone of the initiative, helping ensure fidelity and continuous improvement throughout the year.
Step 3: Strengthen Tier 1 Supports
Tier 1 is your foundation. Before focusing on interventions, ensure that your core instruction and schoolwide practices are solid, equitable, and consistent.
That includes:
High-quality instruction aligned to standards
Consistent classroom routines and expectations
SEL and positive behavior interventions and supports embedded into the daily schedule
Regular screening to identify at-risk students early
When Tier 1 is strong, 80–90% of students get what they need through universal practices alone, reducing the demand for higher-tier interventions.
Step 4: Implement Tiered Interventions
Once Tier 1 systems are established, your team can move to Tiers 2 and 3 targeted and intensive supports for students who need more help.
Examples include:
Tier 2: Small-group instruction, check-in/check-out systems, or social skills groups
Tier 3: Individualized interventions, behavior plans, or one-on-one academic tutoring
Data is key here. Teams should monitor progress frequently, adjust strategies, and celebrate growth along the way.
Remember, MTSS training doesn’t end after launch—staff need ongoing coaching and professional learning to maintain momentum.
Step 5: Use Data to Drive Decisions
Data sits at the heart of both MTSS and PBIS. It tells you what’s working, where adjustments are needed, and which students require more support.
Use your data to:
Evaluate progress at each tier
Identify patterns in student behavior or academic performance
Ensure interventions are applied equitably
Guide professional development priorities
Regular data review meetings, often called “MTSS problem-solving teams”, keep your process collaborative, transparent, and focused on continuous growth.
Step 6: Provide Continuous MTSS Training and Coaching
The most successful schools treat MTSS as an evolving journey, not a one-time event. Sustainable systems require ongoing learning, reflection, and refinement.
That’s why MTSS training should be built into your annual professional development calendar. Focus areas may include:
Data collection and analysis
Effective Tier 2/3 interventions
SEL integration
Trauma-informed behavior supports
Equity and inclusion in tiered systems
Partnering with organizations experienced in MTSS education—like INcompassing Education—can provide customized workshops, on-site coaching, and resources aligned to your specific goals.
Step 7: Engage Families and Community Partners
Strong family and community connections make your multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) more effective. Parents and caregivers should understand how the system works, what supports their child is receiving, and how they can reinforce skills at home.
Schools can host informational sessions, share progress updates, or include parents on MTSS leadership teams. When everyone works together, support extends far beyond the classroom walls.
Helpful Resources for MTSS and PBIS Implementation
Here are some reliable sources to help your team continue learning:
CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): Resources on SEL integration within MTSS.
PBIS.org: Evidence-based tools and templates for schoolwide behavior systems.
National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII): Strategies for Tier 3 academic and behavior support.
INcompassing Education: Customized MTSS training, coaching, and professional development for schools across the nation.
The Bottom Line
Bringing MTSS and PBIS into your school is not just a compliance task—it’s an investment in your teachers, your systems, and your students.
When schools implement multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) alongside positive behavior interventions and supports, they create environments where every child, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to succeed.
It takes time, collaboration, and commitment, but the results are worth it: fewer discipline problems, more engaged learners, and a stronger, more unified school community.