What We Do
Kansas MTSS and Alignment partners with Kansas school districts to create a coherent, evidence-based system supporting the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning of every student. This initiative works to integrate and align all parts of a district’s educational approach—ensuring that curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention, and support services work together seamlessly. Below is a breakdown of how the framework functions across the key concepts of the Kansas MTSS and Alignment framework:
Adaptive and Empowering Culture
Kansas MTSS and Alignment establishes an adaptive and empowering culture by intentionally focusing on leadership, professional learning, and shared responsibility for all students’ success. The framework encourages districts to create a welcoming, collaborative environment where staff and students are actively engaged and feel valued. This culture is nourished by ongoing professional development and a commitment to continuous improvement and shared decision-making—recognizing that every building’s culture is unique and requires ongoing attention.
Systemic Educational Improvement
The systemic educational improvement concept centers on prevention, early identification, and intervention, ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed. The framework is not a single program, but a comprehensive, tiered system where evidence-based practices are implemented across classrooms, schools, and districts—addressing reading, mathematics, behavior, and social-emotional learning from early childhood through grade 12. Districts work with Kansas MTSS Content Specialists to assess needs, refine practices, and build sustainable structures for improvement, with ongoing support and training as needed. The goal is system-level change that is coherent, dynamic, and responsive to data, so resources are used effectively to meet all learners’ needs.
Evaluating Impact
Evaluating impact is built into every phase of Kansas MTSS and Alignment. Districts use frequent, data-based monitoring to inform instructional decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of programming. The framework encourages schools to measure outcomes, review progress regularly, and adjust practices as needed—eliminating initiatives that do not positively impact student achievement. This continuous evaluation ensures that supports are tailored and responsive, helping each student achieve high standards.
How the Elements Work Together
Kansas MTSS and Alignment brings these elements together by:
Aligning practices so that all parts of the system—leadership, instruction, assessment, intervention, and culture—are connected and mutually reinforcing.
Empowering staff and students to actively participate in a culture of growth, support, and advocacy.
Using data to drive decisions, evaluate effectiveness, and ensure all students receive timely, appropriate support.
Providing scalable, sustainable training and resources to districts, with phased support from initial planning through ongoing implementation.
The ultimate goal is to foster learning, growth, and achievement for all students by building a responsive, integrated, and continuously improving educational system in every Kansas district.
Who We Are
The Kansas MTSS and Alignment Project is a contract awarded by the Kansas State Department of Education's Special Education and Title Services Team and is administered by the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center.