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School Counselors' Role In MTSS

The School Counselor and Multitiered System of Supports

(American School Counselors' Association Adopted 2008, revised 2014, 2018)

ASCA Position

School counselors are stakeholders in the development and implementation of a Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS), including but not limited to response to intervention (RTI) and responsive positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS). School counselors align their work with MTSS through the implementation of a school counseling program designed to affect student development in the academic domain (achievement), the career domain (career exploration and development) and the social/emotional domain (behavior).

The Rationale

MTSS is a culturally responsive, evidence-based framework implemented in K–12 schools using data-based problem solving to integrate academic and behavioral instruction and intervention at tiered intensities to improve the learning and social/emotional functioning of all students (Sink, 2016). Guided by student-centered data, MTSS teams engage in cyclical data-based problem solving; make informed decisions about general, compensatory and special education; and assist in the creation of a well-integrated and seamless system of instruction and intervention (Ehren, Montgomery, Rudebush, & Whitmire, 2006).


Within the framework of a data-informed school counseling program school counselors augment their collaboration, coordination and leadership skills (Shepard et al., 2013) to meet the needs of all students and identify students who are at risk for not meeting academic and behavioral expectations. School counselors collaborate across student service disciplines with teachers, administrators and families to design and implement plans to address student needs and to promote students’ academic, career social/emotional success (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2019). Data are collected and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the learning supports for continual improvement efforts over time.

MTSS offers school counselors opportunities to have a lasting impact on student academic success and behavior development while integrating the framework within a school counseling program (Ziomek-Daigle, Goodman-Scott & Donohue, 2016). The application of MTSS aligns with the role of school counseling at any grade level and can be used across multiple domains (Hatch, 2018; Hatch, Duarte, & Degregorio, 2017), such as academic, college/career and/or social/emotional development, based on the ASCA National Model.

The School Counselor's Role

The ASCA National Model serves as the foundation that assists school counselors in the academic, career and social/ emotional development of students through the implementation of a school counseling program by:

 

Providing all students with a standards-based school counseling curriculum to address universal academic, career and social/emotional development

Analyzing academic, career and social/emotional development data to identify struggling students

Identifying and collaborating on research-based intervention strategies implemented by school staff

Evaluating academic and behavioral progress after interventions

Revising interventions as appropriate

Referring to school and community services as appropriate

Collaborating with administrators, other school professionals, community agencies and families in the design and implementation of MTSS

Advocating for equitable education for all students and working to remove systemic barriers

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Where MTSS interacts with school counseling programs the school counselor can serve in roles of supporter and/or intervener (Ockerman, Mason, & Feiker-Hollenbeck, 2012). In the supporting role, the school counselor may provide indirect student service by presenting data or serving as a consultant to a student support team. In intervener role, the school counselor may provide direct student service through the delivery component of the ASCA National Model.

Summary

School counselors implement a school counseling program addressing the needs of all students. Through the review of data, school counselors identify struggling students and collaborate with other student services professionals, educators and families to provide appropriate instruction and learning supports within an MTSS. School counselors work collaboratively with other educators to remove systemic barriers for all students and implement specific learning supports that assist in academic and behavioral success.

References

American School Counselor Association. (2019). ASCA National Model: A framework for school counseling programs (4th ed.). Alexandria, VA: Author.

Ehren, B., Montgomery, J., Rudebusch, J., & Whitmire, K. (2006). New roles in response to intervention: Creating success for schools and children. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/uploadedFiles/slp/schools/prof-consult/rtiroledefinitions.pdf

Hatch, T. (2018) Multi-tiered, multi-domain system of supports (MTMDSS) video https://www.hatchingresults.com/videos/

Hatch, T., Duarte, D., & DeGregorio, L. (2017). Hatching results for elementary school counseling: Implementing core Curriculum and Other Tier One Activities. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin/Sage.

Ockerman, M.S., Mason, E.C., & Feiker-Hollenbeck, A. (2012) Integrating RTI with school counseling programs: Being a proactive professional school counselor. Journal of School Counseling 10(15).

Shepard, J.M., Shahidullah, J.D., & Carlson, J.S. (2013). Counseling Students in Levels 2 and 3: A PBIS/RTI Guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin/Sage

Sink, C. (2016). Incorporating a multi-tiered system of supports into school counselor preparation. Retrieved from http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pages203-219-Sink.pdf

Ziomek-Daigle, J., Goodman-Scott, E., Cavin, J., & Donohue, P. (2016). Integrating a multi-tiered system of supports with comprehensive school counseling program. http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/integrating-a-multi-tiered-system-of-supports-withcomprehensive-school-counseling-programs/

Resources

Hatch, T. (2018). Multi-tiered, multi-domain system of supports. https://www.hatchingresults.com/blog/2017/3/multi-tiered-multi-domain-system-of-supports-by-trish-hatch-phd

McIntosh,K. & Goodman, S. (2016). Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Blending RTI and PBIS. Guilford Press.