Instructional support leaders outline MTSS work, mental‑health partnerships and standard treatment protocols

Rockingham County Schools instructional support leaders told the board Feb. 24 they are strengthening multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS), expanding school‑based mental‑health access through a memorandum of understanding with a community provider and updating standard treatment protocols for attendance and social‑emotional behavior.

Doctor Corcoran, who led the report, said the district uses MTSS across academics, social‑emotional/behavior (SEB) and attendance, and conducts both district and school‑level facilitated assessments (FAM/GRAMA). She said the school‑level assessment covers 41 items across 23 schools. Corcoran said district strengths include leadership, teaming structures, sustainability planning and standard treatment protocols, while schools need additional help using problem‑solving processes and data specifically in the SEB lane.

Corcoran said risk and threat assessments (suicide and threat assessments) are legislated and the district meets at least monthly to follow that requirement. She said multidisciplinary social‑emotional/behavior teams — with administrators, school psychologists, counselors, nurses and social workers — meet to identify students at risk, monitor progress and match interventions.

The district recently signed an MOU with a provider called Stepping Stones to deliver school‑based mental‑health services in elementary and middle schools. Amy Wilson and colleagues said Stepping Stones can bill Medicaid and some families will not incur cost; for students without Medicaid or private insurance the district and the provider are “currently talking…about how to problem solve around that.” Doctor Corcoran added that billing for services provided by Stepping Stones does not flow through Rockingham County Schools; the provider bills insurance or families directly, and no district dollars are currently being used to pay for those services.

Why it matters: the report signals the district’s emphasis on prevention, structured problem solving and school‑level capacity building for social‑emotional supports. The Stepping Stones partnership expands access to therapy in schools, but the district noted limits depending on students’ insurance status.

Next steps: continued professional development, monthly multidisciplinary meetings, use of the FAM/GRAMA assessments to target SEB improvements and further work with the provider to address coverage and access for students without Medicaid or other insurance.