Implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) In Education: Challenges, Strategies, And Impact On Students' Social-Emotional Development: A Scoping Review
Abstract
The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework is pivotal in educational settings, designed to enhance student outcomes through structured support systems that address academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. This scoping review explores the complexities of implementing MTSS, identifies effective strategies, and assesses its impact on students' social-emotional development. The review analyzed articles source from Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect as a database with a range of publications between 2019-2023 using the keywords: Adolescents, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Education and adolescents. There were 18 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that when effectively implemented, MTSS significantly improves social-emotional development. This involves strategic planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, culturally responsive practices, and active participation of families and communities. School leadership plays a vital role in coordinating these efforts, while culturally relevant practices and teacher self-assessment tools help address the diverse needs of students. Additionally, family involvement is a crucial factor in enhancing academic performance and reducing behavioral issues, contributing to the overall social-emotional development of students. A well-coordinated strategy is necessary to optimize the effectiveness of MTSS and improve student outcomes.
Keywords
References
AIR. (2023). Essential Components of MTSS. https://mtss4success.org/essential-components
Arora, P. G., Collins, T. A., Dart, E. H., Hernández, S., Fetterman, H., & Doll, B. (2019). Multi-tiered Systems of Support for School-Based Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Depression Interventions. School Mental Health, 11(2), 240–264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-019-09314-4
August, G. J., Piehler, T. F., & Miller, F. G. (2018). Getting "SMART" about implementing multi-tiered systems of support to promote school mental health. Journal of School Psychology, 66, 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2017.10.001
Bobo, N. (2023). Designing School Health Services to Provide Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for All Students. NASN School Nurses. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602X231187069
Bohanon, H. S. (2021). The role of school improvement planning in the implementation of MTSS in secondary schools. Preventing School Failure, 65(3), 230–242. https://doi.org/10.1080/1045988X.2021.1908215
Bradshaw, C. P. (2021). A Randomized Controlled Trial of MTSS-B in High Schools: Improving Classroom Management to Prevent EBDs. Remedial and Special Education, 42(1), 44–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932520966727
Cardona, M. A. (2021). Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs. U.S. Department of Education, 1–99. https://www2.ed.gov/documents/students/supporting-child-student-social-emotional-behavioral-mental-health.pdf
Castillo, J. M. (2022). A scoping review of the literature on professional learning for MTSS. Journal of School Psychology, 92, 166–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2022.03.010
Chambers, D., Simpson, L., Hill-Briggs, F., Neta, G., Vinson, C., Chambers, D., Beidas, R., Marcus, S., Aarons, G., Hoagwood, K., Schoenwald, S., Evans, A., Hurford, M., Rubin, R., Hadley, T., Barg, F., Walsh, L., Adams, D., Mandell, D., … Teufel, J. (2016). Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation?: Washington, DC, USA. 14-15 December 2015. Implementation Science?: IS, 11 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), 100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-016-0452-0
Choi, J. H. (2019). An Analysis of Mediating Effects of School Leadership on MTSS Implementation. Journal of Special Education, 53(1), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466918804815
Cook, C. R., Frye, M., Slemrod, T., Lyon, A. R., Renshaw, T. L., & Zhang, Y. (2015). An integrated approach to universal prevention: Independent and combined effects of PBIS and SEL on youths’ mental health. School Psychology Quarterly?: The Official Journal of the Division of School Psychology, American Psychological Association, 30(2), 166–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000102
Crim, S. (2023). The Impact of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports ( MTSS ) and the Role Instructional Leaders and Teachers have on the Implementation of an MTSS Framework. 2020–2023.
Davidson, T. M., Bunnell, B. E., Saunders, B. E., Hanson, R. F., Danielson, C. K., Cook, D., Chu, B. C., Dorsey, S., Adams, Z. W., Andrews, A. R. 3rd, Walker, J. H., Soltis, K. E., Cohen, J. A., Deblinger, E., & Ruggiero, K. J. (2019). Pilot Evaluation of a Tablet-Based Application to Improve Quality of Care in Child Mental Health Treatment. Behavior Therapy, 50(2), 367–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2018.07.005
Edwin, M., & Bahr, M. W. (2023). Multi-Tiered System of Supports—Interventionist Beliefs Scale: Development and Initial Validation With School Counselors. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 41(7), 748–763. https://doi.org/10.1177/07342829231184293
Fallon, L. M. (2023). A Teacher Self-Assessment of Culturally Relevant Practice to Inform Educator Professional Development Decisions in MTSS Contexts. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 48(2), 100–112. https://doi.org/10.1177/15345084221111338
García-Carrión, R., Villarejo-Carballido, B., & Villardón-Gallego, L. (2019). Children and Adolescents Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Interaction-Based Interventions in Schools and Communities. In Frontiers in psychology (Vol. 10, p. 918). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00918
Gonzalez, J. E. (2022). Unlocking the Promise of Multitiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for Linguistically Diverse Students: Advancing Science, Practice, and Equity. In School Psychology Review (Vol. 51, Issue 4, pp. 387–391). https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2022.2105612
Grose, R. G., Roof, K. A., Semenza, D. C., Leroux, X., & ... (2019). Mental health, empowerment, and violence against young women in lower-income countries: A review of reviews. Aggression and Violent …. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178917303890
Harris, A., & Jones, M. S. (2015). Leading Futures: Global Perspectives on Educational Leadership. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=htSCCwAAQBAJ
Health Bureau, C., Resources, H., Administration, S., Department of Health, U., & Services, H. (2017). Prevention and Intervention: Multi-tiered Approaches to Bullying What is Multi-tiered Systems of Support? August, 1–2.
Huda, A. A. S., Syahidin, S., & Nurhuda, A. (2023). Role-Playing Learning Method in Shaping Commendable Morals of Students in Islamic Education Subjects. Nusantara Journal of Behavioral and Social Science, 2(4), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.47679/202338
Linan-Thompson, S. (2022). An Examination of MTSS Assessment and Decision Making Practices for English Learners. School Psychology Review, 51(4), 484–497. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.2001690
Lindstrom Johnson, S., Pas, E. T., Debnam, K., Kaihoi, C., & Bradshaw, C. P. (n.d.). Effects of an MTSS-B Intervention on Student and Staff Perceptions of School Climate: Findings From Two Group Randomized Trials. School Psychology Review, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2022.2142954
Losinski, M. (2021). Supporting Students within an MTSS Framework Using SRSD Fractions: Results of a Regression Discontinuity Design. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 36(3), 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1111/ldrp.12253
Malone, C. M. (2022). Applying a MTSS framework to address racism and promote mental health for racial/ethnic minoritized youth. Psychology in the Schools, 59(12), 2438–2452. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22606
Murniati, N., Aufa, B., Kusuma, D., & Kamso, S. (2022). A Scoping Review on Biopsychosocial Predictors of Mental Health among Older Adults. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19, 10909. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710909
Nabunya, P., Damulira, C., Byansi, W., Muwanga, J., Bahar, O. S., Namuwonge, F., Ighofose, E., Brathwaite, R., Tumwesige, W., & Ssewamala, F. M. (2020). Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among high school adolescent girls in southern Uganda. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1792. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09937-2
Nurzanah, E., & Damaiyanti, A. (2023). Literature Review: The Influence of Motivation, Work Discipline, Job Satisfaction, and Employee Loyalty on Employee Performance. Nusantara Journal of Behavioral and Social Science, 2(4), 111–116. https://doi.org/10.47679/202341
Porter, S. G. (2019). It takes a well-organized village: Implementing RTI/MTSS Models in Secondary Schools. In Advanced Strategies and Models for Integrating RTI in Secondary Schools (pp. 25–54). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-8322-6.ch002
Porter, S. G. (2021). It takes a well-organized village: Implementing RTI/MTSS models in secondary schools. In Research Anthology on Inclusive Practices for Educators and Administrators in Special Education (pp. 339–368). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3670-7.ch020
Reward, P. (2023). What is MTSS? https://www.pbisrewards.com/blog/what-is-mtss/
Richter, A., Sjunnestrand, M., Strandh, M. R., & Hasson, H. (2022). Implementing School-Based Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review of the Literature Summarizing the Factors That Affect Implementation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063489
Sailor, W. (2021). Preparing Teacher Educators for Statewide Scale-Up of Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Teacher Education and Special Education, 44(1), 24–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0888406420938035
Scott, T. (2019). An examination of the association between MTSS implementation fidelity measures and student outcomes. Preventing School Failure, 63(4), 308–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/1045988X.2019.1605971
Sugai, G., & Horner, R. (2020). Sustaining and Scaling Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: Implementation Drivers, Outcomes, and Considerations. Exceptional Children, 86, 120–136. https://doi.org/10.1177/0014402919855331
Webb, A. F. (2021). School psychologists as agents of change: Implementing MTSS in a rural school district. Psychology in the Schools, 58(8), 1642–1654. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22521
Weingarten, Z. (2020). Better Together: Using MTSS as a Structure for Building School–Family Partnerships. Teaching Exceptional Children, 53(2), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059920937733
Widman, L., Golin, C. E., Kamke, K., & ... (2018). Sexual assertiveness skills and sexual decision-making in adolescent girls: Randomized controlled trial of an online program of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304106
Yengo, L., Vedantam, S., Marouli, E., Sidorenko, J., Bartell, E., Sakaue, S., Graff, M., Eliasen, A. U., Jiang, Y., Raghavan, S., Miao, J., Arias, J. D., Graham, S. E., Mukamel, R. E., Spracklen, C. N., Yin, X., Chen, S.-H., Ferreira, T., Highland, H. H., … Hirschhorn, J. N. (2022). A saturated map of common genetic variants associated with human height. Nature, 610(7933), 704–712. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05275-y
Yuniarti, Y., & Walajro, J. (2024). Measuring the impact of principals’ competence and facilities on teachers’ achievement in Public Vocational High Schools in Palembang City: A multivariate analysis. Nusantara Journal of Behavioral and Social Science, 3(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.47679/202447
Article Statistic
Abstract view : 1233 timesPDF (Bahasa Indonesia) views : 691 times
Dimensions Metrics
How To Cite This :
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.









