MTSS: Keeping the Promise of America’s Education System

Grounded in decades of evidence on RTI, PBIS, and implementation science, this paper reframes a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) as the most practical way to keep the American promise of public education. It offers clear moves—universal screening, common assessments, short-cycle interventions, and transparent placement rules—that educational leaders can use to strengthen their Tier 1 approach and close gaps quickly. The aim is simple and urgent: Recommit to educational equity by building systems where opportunity depends on evidence and effort, not privilege or pull.