Special Edition

A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is an organizing framework Shrewsbury will be using to build a system of practices and supports that ensures each and every student receives a high quality educational experience.

In 2018, Massachusetts updated its “MTSS Blueprint” tool to reflect the most current research and make it more user-friendly.

The new Blueprint also focuses more explicitly on equitable access and universal design for learning (UDL) and fully integrates social emotional, behavioral, and academic learning.

As a staff, we are working throughout this year to align our practices Pre-K-12, to build our capacity related to collaboration, assessment, social/emotional/behavioral, and instructional high-leverage practices (HLPs).

Department time will be devoted to staff researching and reporting on the 22 HLPs developed by the Council for Exceptional Children Professional Practice and Standards Committee. These practices are found to be the most important tools to make a positive difference with students struggling to find success in school due to learning and behavioral complexities.

In a tiered approach, staff provide high quality SEL instruction (free-standing as well as integrated into other subjects) and general practices that support SEL, to help all students develop SEL core competencies (tier one). Educators and support staff also use data to inform when additional efforts are needed, and provide (or help access) supplemental supports based on individual students' social and emotional needs (tier two). Additionally, more intensive supports are provided for individual student needs that are more urgent and/or intensive (tier three).

Tier one SEL will generally occur in whole-school, whole-class settings, while tier two and three supports may be provided through targeted group instruction, embedded within a classroom setting, in individualized work with students, in counseling sessions, or in other settings as appropriate.

We are in full swing across the district with Co-Teaching! There are 41 teams across Shrewsbury working in year 1, year 2 or year 3 of this important initiative. Co-Teaching, although rewarding, requires thoughtful collaboration and planning in order to be successful.

We continue to conduct professional development sessions and coaching with the district consultants. Topics include things like co-teaching options/styles, specially designed instruction (SDI) and progress monitoring.

Clinical Rounds (held bi-weekly in buildings) with our Clinical Coordinators, Daryl Rynning and Rob Parry-Cruwys, along with Dr. Kim Kusiak, consulting Psychiatrist, prove to be a valuable support to schools working with challenging and complex student profiles. To date, the district has had over 15 referrals.

As a district, SYFS Family Success Partnership allows our clinical teams to refer students and families for support in gaining access to services outside of school. To date, the district has had 7 referrals.

Congratulations to SHS for their national banner recognition as a Unified Champion School! Many of our schools in Shrewsbury work on the very components of a Unified Champion School: Youth Leadership, Whole School Engagement and Unified Sports/Activities.

Just recently, Beal School developed and implemented the Unified Hour of Play! It was amazing to see all children accessing all parts of the school building while playing, self managing and including ALL.