With many demands, opportunities, and initiatives, staying focused on continuous improvement for all students has been and continues to be a challenge. How do we know which programs best fit the students we serve? How do we know when to stop certain programs and start others? Or, when to keep programs going while integrating other complimentary programs?
The districts in Kent ISD have been up to the challenge of answering these tough questions in order to best meet the needs of their students.
Focusing on System Level Decisions
Districts have focused on making system level decisions in order to move the needle of learning and understanding in a positive direction. These system level decisions of course need to be informed by different types of data including fidelity (implementation) data and student outcome (performance) data followed by intentional action planning to determine the best next steps that will continuously improve outcomes for all students.
Celebrating Districts for MTSS Excellence
While all of the districts in Kent ISD are engaged in this extremely difficult work, some are getting state-level recognition for this work. This fall MDE’s MiMTSS (Michigan’s Multi-Tiered System of Support) Technical Assistance Center sent out recognition to many districts throughout the state acknowledging their demonstrated improved outcomes for students through the implementation of MTSS with fidelity.
“District Gold” MTSS Recognition Awards
This year only seven districts in the state met the criteria to be recognized as achieving “District Gold” based on these established criteria. Three of those districts are Kent ISD MTSS partners: Cedar Springs Public Schools, Grandville Public Schools, and Thornapple Kellogg Schools. For anyone who follows our Professional Development Hub on social media (Twitter, FaceBook, or Instagram), you may have noticed recent posts that recognize many of our MTSS Partners. Summaries of the accomplishments for each district recognized can be found here.
In addition to the recognitions above, we would like to highlight the following schools:
- In Grandville, Central Elementary, Cummings Elementary, and South Elementary all had at least 80% of their students on track to becoming proficient readers in the spring of 2022. For Central Elementary, this was an increase of 8% from the previous spring!
- In Cedar Springs, Cedar View Elementary increased the number of students on track to becoming proficient readers by 10%. That’s over 45 students who no longer need additional support in reading!
- In Thornapple Kellogg, both McFall Elementary and Thornapple Kellogg Middle School fell below the national median for discipline referrals. Research shows students in schools with fewer disciplinary incidents benefit from an increase in instructional time.
The Kent ISD MTSS Team is honored to partner with each of these districts as they improve outcomes for ALL students.
Become a MTSS Partner with Kent ISD
MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) is a framework that provides all students with the best opportunity to succeed both academically and behaviorally in school. Educators work in teams to continuously and efficiently make data-based decisions that improve outcomes across all levels of a district. MTSS uses research-based principles and practices that create successful and sustainable system change and provide the most effective instruction to all students. Learn more about MTSS supports and services offered at Kent ISD.
#MTSS #Gratitude #Excellence #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd
This blog post was written in collaboration by Kirsten Rice, MTSS Coordinator for Kent ISD and Mark Raffler, Educational Consultant for MTSS/ELA/SS at Kent ISD, and edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Learning Coordinator and Sara Johnson, PD Hub Intern at Kent ISD.
The Bulletin 