The purpose of this study was to understand (a) the correlation between a positive/negative North Carolina Facilitated Assessment of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (NC FAM-S) score with student achievement and student discipline, and (b) if the years of experience of the teachers at the school affect the NC FAM-S score. The study is grounded in…

A problem exists in NC Montessori schools with effective data analysis for specific learning disabilities (SLD) placement. The purpose of this study was to identify administrators' and teachers' perceptions of data collection and analysis within multitiered systems of support (MTSS) in a Montessori school. Fixsen's implementation science theory…

Iredell-Statesville Schools was awarded a School Climate Transformation Grant in 2019. INSPIRE: Interventions to Nurture Students and Provide Individualized Responsive Environments, was an innovative approach to improving behavioral outcomes for the district's highest risk students by reshaping schools' culture, staff, and systems through…

Vulnerable students in North Carolina secondary schools are dropping out, contributing to the widening of the opportunity and achievement gaps. School counselors are placed in public schools to help vulnerable student populations who are at risk for academic failure. The multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) can be used as an intervention to help…

This mixed methods program evaluation evaluated the implementation of the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework in one North Carolina school district. It examined the perceived teacher impact of the program implementation for Tier 3 reading students in first through third grades. The vision for employing the MTSS framework in North…

In 2015, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Exceptional Children Division proposed policy changes, effective July 1, 2020, on how students with specific learning disabilities are defined, evaluated, and identified. A student in North Carolina is now identified for special education through the use of how they respond to…

Concerns continue to exist in public schools nationwide regarding students who are reading below grade level. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to focus on the components of the MTSS Framework as well as the creation, implementation, and monitoring of research-based, tiered interventions. This study evaluates a comprehensive process,…

This Spotlight explores key aspects of MTSS implementation, including its relationship to special education and effectiveness in improving student outcomes. Discover how MTSS can be used to support social-emotional learning, address discipline disparities, and ensure equitable access to resources and support. By combining data-driven…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has undergone numerous revisions since 1965 when the first federal statute dealing with the education of students with disabilities was implemented. A revision completed in 1975 instituted the concept of least restrictive environment (LRE), which demands that all students with disabilities be…