From Evidence to Action: How Learner Driven Practices Shaped California MTSS PLI 2024

Across the street from Disney’s California Adventure, teachers, counselors, principals, and district leaders gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center for the annual California MTSS Professional Learning Institute (CA MTSS PLI). Badges were handed out, lanyards donned, and sessions scheduled. Inside partitioned conference rooms, educators introduced themselves and settled in for three days of strategizing and learning. All were eagerly gathered to focus on enhancing their educational practices through Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS).

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MTSS is a comprehensive framework designed to meet the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of all students. It emphasizes a tiered approach to support, where Tier 1 involves universal interventions for all students, Tier 2 provides targeted support for those who need additional assistance, and Tier 3 offers intensive interventions for students with significant needs. This framework is crucial for creating equitable learning environments as it ensures that every student receives the appropriate level of support to succeed.

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At the conference, participants deepened their knowledge of implementing the California MTSS framework and the Continuum of Support to create equitable and inclusive learning environments. The sessions provided valuable insights into addressing persistent issues of access and equity, particularly for underserved populations.

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The theme for this year's conference, "Inspire, Innovate, and Thrive," focused on promoting excellence, equity, and access for all learners through the California MTSS Framework. This event attracted classroom educators, administrators, school counselors, school psychologists, school-based mental health clinicians, district leaders, county offices of education leaders, higher education faculty, and community-based organizations.

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Sown To Grow was honored to contribute to the conference's mission of fostering inclusive and equitable education. Our platform aligns with the conference's goals by offering tools that support personalized learning, real-time feedback, and data-driven insights.

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Key Outcomes and Themes

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1. Not Another Thing: Aligning Support Frameworks

One of the key takeaways from the conference was the deep alignment across various student support frameworks, such as Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Community Schools. This alignment ensures that MTSS is not seen as an additional burden but as a cohesive part of existing support structures. Sown To Grow's session, "Centering Student Voice in the Community Schools Journey: From Vision to Strong Implementation," highlighted how community school models can be integrated with the CA MTSS framework, emphasizing the importance of building initiatives on strong relationships.

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2. Centering Student Voice and Experiences

The conference underscored the importance of placing student voice and experiences at the center of decision-making. Creating positive school conditions and climates involves ensuring that everyone in the school community feels socially, emotionally, and physically safe, supported, connected, and engaged. By focusing on student voice, educators can better address persistent issues of access and equity, fostering an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and heard.

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3. Utilizing Evidence-Informed Instruction and Tools

A significant focus was on how to utilize evidence-informed instruction and tools that enhance, rather than replace, educator work. The use of data-driven instruction and AI was explored as a means to support early identification of students at risk and promote data-driven decision-making. These technologies provide educators with actionable insights, allowing them to tailor support to individual student needs and enhance the overall effectiveness of educational strategies.

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4. Rising Tides Lift All Boats: Integrating Tier 1 Strategies

The importance of integrating Tier 1 strategies universally and proactively was highlighted as a way to create a more balanced and effective MTSS. Sown To Grow's session, "Student Data in Actionable MTSS: Proactive & Practical Tier 1 Strategies," demonstrated how prioritizing relationships and early intervention strategies can foster a culture of belonging. By developing universal Tier 1 support strategies, educators can ensure that interventions are timely and effective, connecting these practices to successful Tier 2 and 3 interventions. This proactive approach helps create a strong foundation for all students, ensuring that rising tides lift all boats.

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Sown To Grow Sessions At A Glance

Building on these four key takeaways, the Sown To Grow sessions provided practical insights and strategies that naturally aligned with these themes. The focus was on integrating various support frameworks, centering student voice, utilizing evidence-informed instruction, and implementing proactive Tier 1 strategies.

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Centering Student Voice in the Community Schools Journey: From Vision to Strong Implementation

This session highlighted the importance of aligning support frameworks such as SEL, PBIS, and Community Schools with the MTSS framework. By exploring how community school models can be integrated, the session highlighted the value of centering student voice in decision-making processes. This approach ensures that student experiences are at the forefront, fostering an environment where all students feel socially, emotionally, and physically safe and supported.

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Student Data in Actionable MTSS: Proactive & Practical Tier 1 Strategies

In line with the takeaway of integrating Tier 1 strategies universally and proactively, this session focused on the critical role of strong Tier 1 foundations within the MTSS framework. The discussion centered on how data-driven insights can enhance educator work by providing real-time, actionable feedback. By prioritizing relationships and early intervention strategies, educators can foster a culture of belonging and effectively tailor support to meet student needs, thereby ensuring timely and effective interventions.

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These sessions illustrated how aligning frameworks, centering student voices, and utilizing data-driven tools can enhance educational practices within the MTSS framework. By focusing on these areas, educators are better equipped to create inclusive and effective learning environments that support all students.

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The California MTSS PLI 2024-25 was a remarkable event that underscored the importance of collective efforts in education. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this conference and to connect with so many passionate individuals dedicated to improving educational outcomes. As we move forward, Sown To Grow remains committed to supporting educators and fostering student success through innovative solutions.