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Middletown outlines MTSS expansion and new tracking systems to reduce chronic absenteeism
Summary
District leaders described a three‑year roll‑out of a Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) with pilot schools, standardized flagging criteria, an electronic referral system, and Panorama for intervention tracking; early results show improvements in chronic absenteeism at pilot sites.
Paul Griswold, director of assessment, professional development and instruction, presented a multi‑year plan to expand the district’s Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Griswold said the district began consultancy with ISCON in 23–24, piloted MTSS teams in Beaman, Farm Hill and McDonough, and this year added Bealfield, Snow and Spencer. He described MTSS as a framework to standardize identification of students needing academic, social‑emotional, or attendance interventions and to track supports across schools.
As part of the rollout, the district has adopted standardized flagging criteria (academics, social‑emotional behavior, attendance) based on multiple measures so no single test determines intervention eligibility. Griswold described implementing an electronic K–12 referral system for behavior/discipline data and adopting Panorama as a student success platform to document interventions, attendance, referrals and assessment data so a student’s profile can move with them between schools.
Griswold said early indicators include reduced chronic absenteeism in pilot schools (notably Farm Hill, McDonough and Beaman) and that Farm Hill has shown consistent academic growth on state‑level assessment metrics since joining the initiative. He emphasized that the aim is to provide consistent supports districtwide so families experience similar interventions when students move between schools.
Board members asked about labor intensity for teachers, how MTSS intersects with IEP processes, subgroup data (high‑needs vs. others), and parent communication. Griswold said teams include classroom teachers to help streamline processes and that Panorama profiles and standardized communications are used to inform families; he offered to provide subgroup breakdowns and suggested MTSS at the high‑school level presents logistical challenges around credit‑bearing schedules.
What’s next: the district will continue to scale MTSS practices and Panorama tracking to all ten schools, continue fading consultant support as in Farm Hill and McDonough, and provide requested subgroup and chronic absenteeism data to the board.
