Project Description

The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B) program focuses on improving student behaviors in the classroom by observing schools, teachers, and staff to identify areas where support is needed for the overall improvement of learning. MTSS-B is being evaluated in 89 schools across 9 school districts from fall 2015 through spring 2018.

DIR was engaged by MDRC to conduct a multi-faceted data collection effort that includes teacher and staff surveys, site visits, and classroom observations. The Teacher Survey on Student Behavior (TSSB), a web-based survey asking teachers about the behavior of each consenting student in their classrooms, was administered in [fall/spring, 2015 - 2017] to over 1900 teachers in grades 1-5. A staff survey of both instructional and non-instructional staff was administered in spring 2017.

Site visits were conducted to each of the 89 schools in fall 2015 and spring 2017 within a 6- to 8-week window. DIR recruited, hired, trained, and certified site visitors to administer the Schoolwide Evaluation Tool (SET) and the Individual Student Systems Evaluation Tool (ISSET) protocol. A third round of site visits will be conducted in spring 2018.

In January 2017, DIR recruited, hired, and trained 38 classroom visitors to use the Assessing School Settings: Interactions of Students & Teachers (ASSIST) protocol to conduct classroom observations. Classroom visitors conducted more than 1,800 observations across the 89 schools in an 8-week window.