Understanding the Different Support Systems for Your Students

In the world of pediatric, school-based therapy, there are many different systems, approaches, and models designed to support students in both general and special education programs. Each offers their own set of benefits. Our team at Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS) is going to break down three of the most prominent and influential ones:

? Integrated Systems of Support

? Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

? Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII)

Key Differences: Integrated Systems of Support vs MTSS vs RtII

The various approaches to education are ever evolving to better support individual students, along with entire classrooms. At PTS, we apply proven principles and models to the ?programming in all our partnering districts.

In our experience, doing so enables clinicians, teachers, and administrators to support the greatest number of students in the least-restrictive environment (LRE). Below, you can see some of the key differences between three core approaches:

?Integrated Systems of Support

A model designed to address each student’s academic and non-academic needs. It benefits children with multiple areas of concern, as well as the entire class.

?Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

A cross-disciplinary framework with 3 tiers of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports. It acts as a functional safety net for all students.

?Response to Instruction & Intervention (RtII)

The precursor to MTSS’s tiered interventions. It’s an assessment process/methodology for determining eligibility of specific learning disability criteria.

Today, PTS uses both MTSS interventions, as well as an Integrated Systems of Support Model to better ensure each student receives the targeted services that they need to succeed, both in and out of the classroom.

What Are RtII Solutions?

Before the introduction and implementation of MTSS, RtII solutions were primarily used to evaluate student performance and determine related services eligibility based on specific learning disability criteria. This approach also laid the foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration, which PTS fosters and facilities among the clinicians we place in our partnering districts. ?

What Is the MTSS Approach/Model?

The MTSS Model developed out of and improved-upon RtII. This data-driven, cross-disciplinary approach creates academic equity and enhances the quality of classroom-based support systems. As we see in the schools we serve, it effectively triages students to match them with the right level of support. In turn, this helps them build greater capacity, rather than dependency.

With this model in place, students can access support via three distinct tiers:

? Tier 1: Available to all students at the general education level.

? Tier 2: Short-term, small-group strategies that support multiple students struggling in the same areas.

? Tier 3: More intensive, individualized support and interventions for individual students on a therapy caseload.

The goal is to move students through a continuum of services, as needed, including helping them get off therapy caseload when possible.

By implementing a range of in-classroom interventions that address common concerns, the MTSS approach ensures no student falls through the cracks. At the same time, it filters out any students who do not need a costly evaluation, qualify for related services, or require individual therapeutic support to fully access their education.

PTS Applies the MTSS Model to Related Services

The MTSS Model was originally used to support students struggling in multiple academic areas, such as reading and math. However, PTS applies this model to related services, including occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech-language pathology (SLP), and more. Using an MTSS approach in this context for over two decades, we have seen it:

? Improve treatment.

? Reduce therapy referrals.

? Contain therapy caseloads.

It enables therapists and teachers to lead classroom-level interventions, while parent volunteers or paraprofessionals lead small-group interventions. This gives students who simply need an extra boost the support they need in the classroom environment.

What Is the Integrated Systems of Support Model?

Even if a student gets matched with the right levels of support, they may continue to struggle and fall behind if their targeted interventions are provided separately from one another. To address this, the consultive Integrated Systems of Support Model calls for clinicians and teachers to integrate proven strategies across all disciplines and treatment sessions.

Originally, the Integrated System of Support Model was developed to support students with multiple areas of concern. However, we have found that it benefits all students by giving everyone more practice and support—who couldn’t use more of that?

Ultimately, the goal of this approach is to create more inclusive interventions and classrooms in which all children can thrive in the LRE.

How PTS’s Cross-Disciplinary Teams Collaborate to Improve Student Outcomes

If a student is struggling to regulate their sensory experience or process a traumatic event, along with having a speech difficulty, the clinicians working with them need to integrate their services to help address the root causes of their challenges. We work alongside qualified, dedicated service providers from many different disciplines who integrate their services, including:

? Physical Therapists (PTs)

? Occupational Therapists (OTs)

? Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs)

? Registered Behavioral Technicians (RBTs)

? Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)

? Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs)

? Licensed Behavior Specialists (LBSs)

? Licensed Certified Mental Health Professionals (LCMHPs)

? Mental Health Counselors

? Social Workers

? School Psychologists

? Nurses

By facilitating communication and collaboration among providers, teachers, and administrators, our clinical directors foster an environment of learning. Clinicians benefit from better understanding and incorporating knowledge from other disciplines. Students benefit from targeted interventions that help them access their education sooner and more effectively.

Build Student Capacity by Applying MTSS & Integrated System of Support Models

Here at PTS, we apply both the MTSS and the Integrated System of Support Model to related services in all our partnering schools and associated programming. For over two decades, we have seen these models drive real results that help more students, all while consistently remaining within budget.

If you are a clinician searching for a cross-disciplinary, school-based work environment, we invite you to learn more about the current openings in our partnering schools. If you are an administrator looking for ways to make your program more efficient, while maintaining quality of care, we can help.

Contact us to find out how we apply these various models to general and special education classrooms today!