WEBINAR: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Timely Instruction for All Students

Join MAIER (Maine Access to Inclusive Education Resources) and the Maine Department of Education Office of Special Services and Inclusive Education (OSSIE) for a webinar with host Dr. Rachel Brown Chidsey on multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). This session will provide an overview of the components in a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) and how students with disabilities can and should participate within all tiers. Participants will learn the importance of a strong Tier 1 core instruction foundation for all students as well as how targeted (Tier 2) and intensive (Tier 3) supports are provided for students regardless of dis/ability. The session will conclude with action steps that special educators can take to ensure that their students are included within all tiers of support, as appropriate.

When: February 9 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Audience: For all educators and administrators
Contact Hours: 2 contact hours will be provided to participants
Register here

Rachel Brown Chidsey, Ph.D. Is a nationally renowned expert in multi-tiered systems of support for academics, and inclusive teaching practices. She has more than 25 years of experience in education and has authored dozens of articles, and many books on supporting struggling learners and students with disabilities. She is currently the president of the Maine State Council for Exceptional Children.

This session will be recorded and available on the MAIER after the event. For additional information please contact MAIER director, Dr. Sarah Howorth at sarah.howorth@maine.edu

Check Out the Newest Edition of the Multi-tiered System of Supports Newsletter

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) team of its Office of Innovations is excited to release the newest version of the MTSS Newsletter.

Multi-tiered System of Supports Newsletter | January/February Issue

Released every other month, the MTSS Newsletter will feature four main topics in each issue: News to know, Tools to Use, Webinars and Conferences, and Voices from the Field.

In the News to Know section, you will learn about current and upcoming work that is happening in MTSS at the Maine DOE and in the education field.
The Tools to Use section will feature an evidence-based tool that you can use to aid in the development and implementation of MTSS in your school.
The Webinars and Conferences section will provide information and links to a variety of pre-recorded webinars to watch and when available, information about MTSS specific conference opportunities that are being offered.
Finally, each issue will include a question (and answer) or an MTSS implementation story from YOU that could help others with their MTSS implementation efforts.

Be sure to look out for the release of the newsletter once every two months. The first issue is now available at this link. The next issue will be released on or around March 10th, 2023.

If you would like to subscribe to receive the newsletter and have it delivered directly to your inbox, you can do so by clicking here.

Each newsletter will also be linked on the Maine DOE MTSS Website, located here.

For more information about the newsletter, contact Andrea Logan at andrea.logan@maine.gov.

Announcing the Monthly Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Book Club

Interested in learning MORE about MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports)? Consider joining the MTSS monthly book club! That’s right, book club is back! Feedback from the summer book club was overwhelmingly positive, so that is the format we will use for MTSS book study for this school year. Details for signing up are below.

Here is how it works. Register for the book club or clubs that you would like to attend. Next, get yourself a copy of the text and read it at your own pace on your own schedule. Then, show up on the date of that book club and be ready to pose thoughts, questions, and other innovative ideas to your peers. While not necessary, it would be helpful to keep written notes to capture your thinking as you read the text. That’s it! You will receive 2 hours of professional learning units when you join and participate for the full 2-hour book session.

The text(s) that we will discuss are as follows:

January 30th from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Leading Equity-based MTSS For All Students – This book is geared toward school principals, strategists, and other school/district decision-makers. The book outlines a process for building MTSS from the ground up and is full of templates that can be used in MTSS implementation and design. Although not required, this book is best experienced with a team. Sign up for Leading Equity-based MTSS.
February 27th from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Effective Universal Instruction – Back by popular demand, this is an encore book club of a past title: Effective Universal Instruction. Principals, classroom teachers, special ed teachers, strategists, and gifted and talented (GT) teachers can all benefit from this text. While mostly centered around tier 1, this book briefly touches on tier 2, and tier 3, as well as some philosophical, historical, and future planning perspectives and activities. Sign up for Effective Universal Instruction.
March 27th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Demystifying MTSS – This book is appropriate for classroom educators, principals, and instructional coaches/strategists, and gifted and talented teachers and is geared toward anyone who is looking for practical actions school improvement teams can take to ensure all students’ diverse needs can be met. Although not required, this book is best experienced with a team. Sign up for Demystifying MTSS.
April 25th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Best Practices at Tier 1 – Elementary Level – This book offers an opportunity for elementary principals, teachers, strategists, and GT teachers to come together to chat about some specific best practices in Tier 1. From Amazon, “Created specifically for K-5 educators, this book provides proven response to intervention strategies to differentiate instruction, engage students, increase success, and avoid additional interventions.” Sign up for Best Practices in Tier 1 – Elementary.
May 30th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Best Practices in Tier 1: Secondary Level – Calling all secondary teachers, principals, strategists, support staff, etc. This book club is just for you! This book does exactly what it says…. it explores best practices in tier 1 at the secondary level. Join this book club and can learn alongside fellow secondary educators across the state. Sign up for Best Practices in Tier 1 Secondary.
June 28th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – The Road to Success with MTSS – This book is appropriate for classroom educators, principals, and instructional coaches/strategists, and gifted and talented teachers and is geared toward anyone who is beginning an MTSS implementation journey or is preparing to revise current MTSS practices. Sign up for The Road to Success with MTSS.

For more information about the Monthly MTSS Book Club, you can contact Andrea Logan, MTSS Specialist, at andrea.logan@maine.gov. If possible, please put “book club question” in the subject line.

Inclusion for All: How to Support All Learners through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

The Office of Special services and Inclusive Education at the Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce our next speaker in our Special Topics Series – Dr. Katie Novak on January 4, 2023 from 3:30-4:30 pm.

Audience: General & Special Educators, Administrators, Parents, Caregivers and Community Members Interested in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Muti-Tiered Systems of Support(MTSS)

Cost: FREE Please register for the Zoom link here

While rocking out to a co-created playlist by DJ Swiff, attendees will understand:

A big picture of UDL, how it fits within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS),
How we can proactively design learning experiences that plan for variability and help all students reach rigorous, grade-level standards.
Be inspired as you learn about variability and barriers, firm goals and flexible means, and the power of expert learning.
How to be better prepared to design lessons and instruction that impact learners from preschool to adulthood in ways that are innovative, inclusive, and impactful (and fabulous!).

About the Presenter:

Katie Novak, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and eleven published books, Dr. Novak designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support, and universally designed leadership.

Dr. Novak is the author of the best-selling books, UDL Now! A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning in Today’s Classrooms, Innovate Inside the Box, with George Couros, Equity by Design, with Mirko Chardin, and The Shift to Student-Led with Catlin Tucker.

Be sure to be watching for announcements in the Maine DOE Newsroom of future featured guests in our series!

If there are additional questions about this webinar or the series, please email Tracy (Tracy.W.Whitlock@maine.gov), Anne-Marie Adamson (anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov ) or Dee Saucier (danielle.m.saucier@maine.gov).

Gifted and Talented Program Update Form is Now Live

The 2023 Gifted and Talented (GT) program update form is now live on the Multitiered Systems of Development – Gifted and Talented (MTSS-GT) website. Rather than a full application, we will be collecting district GT program information through a short survey. This survey allows the Maine Department of Education (DOE) an opportunity to take a “pulse check” of GT programming happening around the state. The survey is titled, “Gifted and Talented District Update Survey 2023” and is located under the MTSS banner.

All Maine districts are asked to complete the survey regardless of whether they have current GT programming, waiver status, etc. The purpose of the survey is to collect current programming information of Gifted and Talented services and is not a full program application. The survey is currently live, and will be open through September 30th, 2022.

Got Questions?

If you have any questions about this year’s process, consider joining a MTSS-GT office hour! The MTSS-GT office hour happens every Tuesday from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM throughout the summer. September office hours will be Tuesday’s from 3:30-4:30 PM each week. You can obtain the link for the office hours is here.

MTSS Monday Minute, July 11th, 2022 – Reviewing Maine’s MTSS Framework Graphic – Is now available!

Have you seen the most recent MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) Monday Minute? This week’s M&M features a sort of “fieldtrip” where we navigate over to a video within the video and explore Maine’s MTSS Framework as it appears on the MTSS webpage. In the video we walk through each of the 4 pillars of the framework and briefly explore the components of each pillar.

Summer book club reminder!

All of the available texts for the MTSS summer book clubs have been accounted for, and most have been mailed. The Effective Universal Instruction books are completely mailed, and the few remaining copies of The Knowledge Gap that still need to go out will be mailed later this week. Remember, ALL educators are welcome to join the book discussion by registering below. So, if you have read the book and want to join in, please do so! And, if you are waiting for the Effective Universal Protocol to come out, you can expect that to be mailed by the end of the day, Monday, July 11th.

For further information, reach out to Andrea Logan, Maine DOE Multi-tiered Systems of Support Specialist at andrea.logan@maine.gov.

MTSS Monday Minute – Graduation Rates and MTSS – Is Now Available!

Have you seen the June 13th MTSS Monday Minute? This week’s M&M features one school district’s approach to improving graduation rates through their MTSS.

Also, there is still time to register for one of this summer’s book club gatherings. Books for the Effective Universal Instruction book club have begun to be mailed. Currently there are still 1 free book available for the Effective Universal Instruction text, and 11 The Knowledge Gap books. Click this link for more information about the book club opportunity.

*In the M&M video, 3 free books are referenced as being available for Effective Universal Instruction, but 2 have since been accounted for. All educators who have read, or would like to learn more about Effective Universal Instruction by Kim Gibbons and colleagues are welcome to join!

For further information, reach out to Andrea Logan, Maine DOE Multi-tiered Systems of Support Specialist at andrea.logan@maine.gov.

MTSS Monday Minute – Summer Reading Suggestions – Now Available!

Have you seen the June 6th MTSS Monday Minute? This week’s M&M features three book suggestions you may want to add to your summer reading list. Click the link to view the video.

Don’t forget to have your minutes counted! Be sure to check out the video description box for more information about how to have your minutes counted toward a shoutout to your district.

Also, there is still time to register for one of this summer’s book club gatherings. Books for the Effective Universal Instruction book club will begin to be mailed Friday, June 10th. Currently there are still 10 free books available for educators to participate.

Click this link for more information about the book club opportunity.

Reach our to Andrea Logan, Maine DOE Multi-tiered Systems of Support Specialist at andrea.logan@maine.gov with further questions or support.

MTSS Summer Opportunities – Office Hours, Book Club and More!

The Maine Department of Education’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) summer office hours are shifting slightly for July and August. There will be two different office hour offerings, one specifically for questions and guidance around Gifted and Talented (GT) renewal, and one for general MTSS.

What’s Happening with GT? – On Friday, July 1st, a brief renewal application for gifted and talented programs will become available on the MTSS-GT website. All schools, whether they previously had a funded program or a waiver, must submit a renewal application for the next school year. Renewal applications will close on September 30th.

General office hour will be Tuesdays 11AM-12PM. GT renewal office hour on select Tuesdays from 12PM-1PM: July 5, August 16, September 13, July 19, August 30, September 27

Click here to register for all MTSS Office Hour sessions.

MTSS Monday Minute

Beginning June 6th, check the MTSS YouTube playlist for the MTSS M&M topic for the week. What’s an MTSS M&M? An MTSS M&M topic is a 3-4 minute video that will explain one tiny MTSS concept in a bite-sized clip. But wait, there’s more! The district with the most watched M&M’s will get a shoutout on the MTSS website, so be sure to leave a comment responding to the call to action embedded in each video with the name of your district to get your minutes counted! How many M&M’s will you watch?!?

Click here to go to the playlist

Summer Book Club

Join us for the first ever MTSS book club experience! Rather than a traditional text study, this reading experience will function much more like your typical book club. Participants will have about 4-weeks to complete the text at their own pace, then join the virtual discussion via zoom to discuss the book with colleagues. It’s that easy! Already read the text? Great! Feel free to join the conversation! Books will be provided to the first 25 educators who sign up. If you do sign up, and receive the book, please commit to
attending the virtual meeting via Zoom. Bring your innovative mindset, and enjoy some summer learning with your peers!

JUNE – Effective Universal Instruction: An Action Oriented Approach to Improving Tier 1 by Kimberly Gibbons, Sarah Brown, and Bradley Niebling, Thursday, July 14, from 10:00-11:30 AM. Register by June 10th – Click here to Register for June Book Club!
JULY – The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler, Thursday, August 11th, from 10:00-11:30 AM. Register by July 8th – Click here to Register for July Book Club.

Download the MTSS-GT Flyer to post at your school

For further information about any of the MTSS or GT summer opportunities, please reach out to Andrea L. Logan, Maine DOE Multi-tiered Systems of Support Specialist at andrea.logan@maine.gov.

UMaine-led Grant Helps Maine Schools Implement Behavioral Support Framework

More than 4,000 students across Maine are now receiving Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) thanks to intensive professional development provided by University of Maine College of Education and Human Development experts supported by a grant from the Maine Department of Education.

PBIS is a nationally recognized, multi-tiered framework providing a continuum of supports to all students, promoting positive academic and socio-behavioral outcomes. In 2018, educators from 15 Maine schools formed the PBIS Regional Professional Development Cohort, receiving instruction on how to implement the framework, and meeting regularly with UMaine experts to share their experiences and address ongoing challenges during the three-year grant period.

“When we first started this project, nobody knew we’d have to complete it during a global pandemic,” says Courtney Angelosante, UMaine lecturer in special education and one of the experts who provided professional development to teachers and school leaders.

“It really has been a wonderful experience that will have enduring benefits for years to come,” she says.

The grant included schools from several parts of Maine, including RSU 3/MSAD 3 (Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity and Waldo); Brewer Community School; Indian Island School; Dr. Lewis S. Libby School (Milford); Appleton Village School; Vassalboro Community School; East End Community School (Portland); RSU 20 (Searsport and Stockton Springs); and Wiscasset Elementary School.

“We’re really proud of the work these schools have done,” says Karen Robbie, PBIS trainer and doctoral candidate in the College of Education and Human Development. “Thanks to their efforts, more children in Maine are now experiencing positive, predictable, effective and equitable school environments.”

Other members of the UMaine team included Jim Artesani, associate dean for graduate education, research and outreach, and Kristin Grant, a retired principal from RSU 14.

“It has impacted me tremendously and made me become a better and more effective teacher and person,” says Vincent Vannah, a teacher at Morse Elementary School.

He adds that the PBIS framework made school staff rethink their mindset around teaching about behavior, creating a more positive atmosphere.

“I am able to lead and support fellow teachers in my school with implementation and support of strategies to best help teachers that are experiencing difficult and hard behavior,” says Vannah, who served as a PBIS coach for Morse Elementary throughout the project.

Members of the PBIS Regional Professional Development Cohort will gather on Monday, June 21 at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast to celebrate their accomplishments. Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin and other MDOE officials will deliver remarks at the event. Jen Freeman of the National Center on PBIS is also scheduled to share a message with the cohort.