Authors: Katie Novak, Ed.D. and Kristan Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Published by Jossey-Bass, 2023

"To build inclusive and equitable systems, we must be flexible enough to know that our work is ongoing and cyclical...We have to be open to change and ready to adapt when evidence suggests there is a better way to do things." (page 7)

"The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015) emphasizes the use of evidence-based activities, strategies, and interventions (collectively referred to as "interventions"). The term evidence-based means an intervention that demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes." (page 10)

"Meeting the needs of all learners will not happen overnight but when a committed team is committed to the process of improvement, we can create a system where all students have equal opportunities to succeed." (page 16)

"We need to ensure students and educators get the support they need academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally to succeed. MTSS requires complex organizational change, the development of implementation supports or drivers, and a systems-wide data-driven approach with feedback loops within a framework of deeper learning." (page 19)

"MTSS is a noun, not a verb...rather, it is a system you build to ensure that all learners have equitable access to Tier 1 instruction that meets their needs while also getting additional support when necessary." (page 21)

"MTSS is a system designed to meet the needs of al students by ensuring that schools optimize data-driven decision-making, progress monitoring, and evidence-based supports and strategies with increasing intensity to sustain student growth academically, behaviorally, and social emotionally. MTSS is recommended in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as a 'comprehensive continuum of evidence-based, systemic practices to support a rapid response to students' needs, with regular observation to facilitate data-based instructional decision making.'" (page 22)