Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mtss topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent outlines MTSS rollout and warns of state accountability changes that could shift school ratings
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Daniel updated the Mathews County School Board on MTSS rollout, data-housing needs and grant plans, and reviewed pending state changes to the School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) including removal of the WISE test from 3E and a return to value-table growth metrics.
Dr. Daniel, the division superintendent, told the Mathews County School Board on May 19 that the district is in the initial implementation stage of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) intended to align evidence-based interventions, data collection and problem-solving across schools.
The presentation outlined MTSS core components—systemic practice, data-driven interventions, fidelity and ongoing evaluation—and described work done over the past 18 months to create division-level leadership, school-based teams, and a formal data-meeting protocol. Dr. Daniel said the district has begun universal screening and will likely remain in initial implementation through next school year, with a goal of moving toward full implementation by fall 2027.
A primary barrier the superintendent flagged is data housing and integration. He said a vendor integration would have an estimated startup cost of roughly $10,000 and a recurring annual cost closer to $3,000, with higher one-time integration expenses. The division will apply for an upcoming state MTSS grant this summer to offset startup and integration costs.
Dr. Daniel placed the MTSS work in the context of state accountability changes proposed by the Virginia Department of Education. He summarized two major shifts under discussion: removing the WISE credential test from the high-school 3E (enlistment/employment/enrollment) category, and returning to value-table growth methodology rather than the third-party cohort-based growth calculation used last year. He also described potential adjustments to how high-school performance is measured (cohort model versus annual measurement) and to the weighting between growth and mastery metrics.
Board members expressed concern about the increasing complexity of state rules. Mrs. Hodges and others said the changes make the accountability model harder for local communities and school staff to understand, with one member warning that increasing administrative complexity impedes focus on basic instruction. Dr. Daniel acknowledged the evolving state guidance and said the division will continue focusing on instruction fundamentals while adapting to new reporting requirements.
The superintendent closed by noting that MTSS implementation is iterative and that the district is refining tiered supports, data protocols and staff mentoring to onboard new teachers into the system.
Next steps: the division will apply for the state MTSS grant to fund data warehousing and continue initial implementation work through 2026–27; no formal board vote was required.
