MTSS

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

Students surrounded by a teacher looking at a computer.

Every Classroom. Every Student. Every Day.

Westerville City Schools is committed to providing every student with the support they need to succeed in school and beyond.

At our schools, we use the Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework or MTSS. It’s a step-by-step system of support that helps every child get what they need to grow and thrive. Some students may need extra help in certain areas, while others may need more challenges to keep learning at their best pace. This framework makes sure teachers, families and coaches work together so students always have the right support at the right time.

This page provides an overview of how MTSS works and how families can stay informed and involved.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports

What is MTSS?

The Framework

Two students work in a reading assignment.

The framework is built on three tiers, each offering a different level of help depending on a student’s needs:

Tier 1: Support for All
- All students receive high-quality instruction through Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a teaching approach that offers students flexible paths to access and connect with information. Instead of expecting every student to fit one way of learning, UDL calls for lessons with flexibility built in — offering multiple ways for students to engage with material, show what they know and connect learning to their interests.
Tier 2: Additional Support
- Students who need more reinforcement or extension in certain areas receive additional small-group instruction or targeted strategies, often for a short period of time.
Tier 3: Targeted Support
- A smaller number of students receive intensive, individualized support that is tailored to their unique needs. This often includes one-on-one instruction or behavior interventions or enrichment and close monitoring of progress.

Teachers, counselors, and specialists work as a team to assess student progress and adjust support levels as needed.

Impact

A third grade teacher works with students in class.

MTSS is a way of organizing support so that every student is set up for long-term success. It ensures that instruction, intervention and enrichment are equitable, responsive and proactive. It allows schools to:

Identify and support students early
Improve instruction for all learners
Focus on both academic and behavioral growth
Promote fairness by giving every child what they need to succeed

And it’s already making an impact in classrooms and schools across the District.

The Role of Families

A teacher works with a student on a math assignment.

Families are essential partners in the process. Westerville City Schools encourages parents and caregivers to:

Stay in regular contact with teachers and school staff
Ask questions about the types of support their child may be receiving
Share observations from home that can help guide instructional decisions
Participate in conferences and progress meetings
Celebrate progress and milestones, no matter how big or small

When schools and families work together, students benefit.

MTSS in Action

Breakfast Club offers calm, connection to start the day at Huber Ridge Elementary

Mar 6 2026

As students stream into Huber Ridge Elementary for the start of school, the Breakfast Club gets ready for the day.

One framework, every school: MTSS connects educators across the District to support students

Feb 20 2026

The Minerva Park Middle School student was excited to take advanced classes.

Universal Design for Learning expands choice and access in high school classrooms

Feb 7 2026

For her AP Spanish 5 unit on beauty and aesthetics, Westerville Central High School teacher Erin Moehl has asked students to think beyond the canvas. Using protest art as a lens, students examined how artistic expression reflects values and shapes quality of life across Spanish-speaking communities.

Teaching beyond academics: How WCSD is helping students learn, lead and regulate

Nov 7 2025

All of Fouse Elementary recently gathered along the perimeter of the gym for the school’s first-ever assembly celebrating students’ positive behavior over the past month.

Teaching for all: WCSD focuses on Universal Design for Learning to support every student’s needs

Nov 1 2025

Condensation. Evaporation. Sublimation.

For several days, the students in Phil Carney’s sixth-grade science classes at Walnut Springs Middle School this week have been diving into vocabulary linked to their lessons on the different states of matter and how they change into solids, liquids and gases.

In This Section

Elementary Schools

Middle & High Schools

Additional Programs