A Multi-Tiered System of Supports is a cohesive framework used to align resources and initiatives in order to meet the academic and behavioral needs of all students.  It is a method of organization which ensures optimal educational outcomes for students at Bragg Street Academy, 6-12th grade.  MTSS aligns the entire system of supports, encompasses SST and PBIS, and ensures effective team-based problem solving that is data informed and evidence-based.  Evidence supports that providing intervention as early as possible for both academic and behavioral deficits will allow for student growth and academic achievement. Bragg Streets model for MTSS consists of six essential components: 

• Shared Leadership

• Family, School, & Community Partnerships

• Data-Based Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Layered Continuum of Supports (TI, TII, TIII)

• Evidence-Based Instruction, Intervention, & Assessment

• Universal Screening & Progress Monitoring

This systematic approach supports struggling learners, as well as advanced learners, through the selection of evidence-based interventions in response to both academic and behavioral needs.  The system includes on-going progress monitoring of the effectiveness of instruction to ensure that all Bragg Street students graduate from high school ready for college and career.  

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success. Research shows that positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to not only change problematic, or unexpected behavior, but also to encourage and maintain expected behavior. 

Positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) establishes clear behavior expectations to support all students in achieving social, emotional, and academic success. In addition to making behavior expectations clear to students, PBIS provides behavioral supports when needed, and fosters a positive environment where appropriate behavior is acknowledged and rewarded. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining primary (school-wide), secondary (classroom), and tertiary (individual) systems of support that improve lifestyle results (personal, health, social, family, work, recreation) for all youth by making targeted misbehavior less effective, efficient, and relevant, and desired behavior more functional.  Bragg Street Academy incorporates a comprehensive form of PBIS in order to maintain consistency throughout our school.  

The key components of implementing an effective school-wide PBIS system include:

1. Clearly defining and explicitly teaching behavioral expectations (Behavior Matrix, Procedures)

2. Consistently reinforcing the positive behaviors we wish to promote (Strategies for acknowledging positive behaviors, LiveSchool Points, SPOTCHA, Principal Positive Referral, Shout-Outs grade level incentives)

3. Utilization of behavioral data to identify problems and assess progress

4. System of Correcting problem behaviors and teaching appropriate replacement behaviors (Office discipline referral, strategies for correcting behavior)

5. Supports for Educators (Student Contracts, Behavior Contacts, PBIS, SST Team, Exit Plans)