Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS): A Data-Driven Framework to Support All Learners

This course focuses on understanding Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) as a comprehensive framework for addressing the social-emotional learning and mental health needs of students. Through this course, participants will:

1. Develop a thorough understanding of MTSS and its application in supporting the whole child.
2. Explore how MTSS can effectively address social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health needs within school settings.
3. Learn how to assess their school site's strengths and needs related to effectiveness, prevention, and support.
4. Collaborate with leadership to determine strategic next steps for implementing MTSS tailored to their school's specific needs.
5. Participants will gain knowledge of MTSS principles, assess their school system's strengths and needs, understand how MTSS supports mental health, and recognize the long-term benefits of MTSS implementation, including reduced referrals and improved staff support in managing mental health needs on campus.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for school counselors who are actively working within a school setting. Those who feel a strong sense of leadership at their sites will be most interested in the content.

ASCA Professional Standards and Ethical Standards and Practices

M 5. Effective school counseling is a collaborative process involving school counselors, students, families, teachers, administrators, other school staff and education stakeholders.

M 6. School counselors are leaders in the school, district, state and nation

Essential Questions

1. How receptive is your international community to mental health support?
2. What conversations have been had already as a school leader regarding ways to support students after the pandemic closures?
3. Are you feeling embraced in your leadership role at your school?
4. What barriers do you foresee if MTSS were implemented at your school? What are some of the solutions to those barriers?

Participants will have knowledge about:

1. The components of Multi-Tiered Systemic Support (MTSS)
2. The components of Response to Intervention (RtI)
3. The components of Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)
4. The differences between universal support, targeted support and intensive support.
5. The data around MTSS

Participants will be able to:

1. Explain MTSS to their school sites
2. Evaluate and compare their current support systems to determine feasibility of MTSS.
3. Share their understanding of the impacts of MTSS on student mental health and academic progress.

Tara Eddy

Tara Eddy, M.S. is an educational psychologist, an international speaker, and entrepreneur.

She is passionate about helping children, teens, and adults find their path, learn their strengths and overcome challenges. Tara has an M.S. in counseling and school psychology and is licensed through the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California (United States). She has been providing therapy, consultation, and comprehensive evaluation for 13 years, specializing in neurodiversity and anxiety. Beyond therapeutic and diagnostic work, Tara provides global courses and workshops on topics related to anxiety, mental health, neurodiversity, motivation, and behavior. In this capacity, Tara has worked with families, counselors, and educators in 49 countries.

She is the Founder & CEO of Feelings in Motion, a company producing educational content and games that support children’s social and emotional health. Their first multi-sensory educational game, Stomp It Out, was released on Amazon in November of 2020 and is currently used by parents, therapists, and educators around the world. Tara leads What Now (www.whatnow.org), a new virtual space for parents of neurodiverse children and teens to find research, strategies, courses, and community. She is an American mom of two young children and lives currently in Berlin, Germany.

ISCA Member Price: $180

Non-Member Price: $260

Dates and times of offerings: 

Option 9: August 27, 2026; 12PM to 3pm UTC

Option 10: March 2, 2027; 10AM to 1PM UTC

Contact Hours: 3-hour course

Time commitment between sessions: None

Required Resource(s): Any knowledge of their current systemic supports for students including what is done to support academic and emotional growth