North Hills details MTSS rollout for elementary schools, partners with Allegheny IU
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Summary
Elementary curriculum leader Dr. Amy Matthew outlined the district's Multi‑Tiered System of Support (MTSS) rollout, saying North Hills started with first‑grade reading, is expanding to kindergarten, and is using iReady, Acadience and progress monitoring with support from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
Dr. Amy Matthew told the North Hills Board of Education on Feb. 5 that the district is expanding a Multi‑Tiered System of Support (MTSS) across elementary grades to provide structured, layered assistance for students who need extra academic help.
"MTSS is a problem solving endeavor at its core," Matthew said, describing MTSS as a district‑wide framework that looks at core instruction (Tier 1), targeted small‑group intervention (Tier 2) and intensive supports (Tier 3). She compared the model to a pediatrician referring to specialists when initial interventions aren't sufficient.
Matthew said North Hills began MTSS implementation in 2024 with first‑grade reading and this year moved into kindergarten. The district is using screening and diagnostic tools — iReady, PSSAs, classroom assessments and Acadience in K–2 — and is conducting progress monitoring to check whether interventions are effective. She credited the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (IU) — naming Kate Stuckey, Dr. Shelley Burr and Jacob Minsinger — for helping phase the rollout and for supporting professional development.
Implementation details: MTSS teams will include principals, interventionists, special educators, school counselors and grade‑level teachers. Scheduling remains a practical challenge; Matthew described ongoing work to refine daily schedules so interventions are delivered without disrupting core instruction. The district also cited LETRS training and other professional development to help teachers analyze data and implement evidence‑based strategies.
Why it matters: MTSS is designed to identify student needs early and reduce the need for later, more intensive interventions. Matthew told the board that the district is "constantly moving forward" with training and data review to refine curriculum, assessment choices and pacing.
Next steps: The district will continue phasing MTSS to additional grades and will schedule district‑level data review meetings and team meetings to evaluate effectiveness and adjust schedules and supports.