Our “Every Student, Every Time” approach ensures every child gets the right support at the right time.

• Universal supports for all students.

• Targeted interventions for students needing extra help.

• Intensive support for those requiring specialized assistance.

What is MTSS?

At its core, MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) is about making sure every student gets the right support at the right time. Whether a child needs extra help, more challenge, or social-emotional support, MTSS is a framework that helps schools respond to each student’s unique needs.

With the motto “Every Student, Every Time,” MTSS ensures that no child slips through the cracks. It brings together academics, behavior, and wellness supports in a coordinated way so that teachers, counselors, and specialists can work as a team to help students thrive.

By using data, regular check-ins, and proven strategies, MTSS helps schools create a learning environment where every student can grow and succeed.

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

Collaborative Teaching for Student Growth

PLCs are teams of teachers who meet regularly to make sure every child is learning. Through collaboration, they:

• Focus on key skills students must master.

• Identify how they’ll know students have learned those skills.

• Plan targeted support for students who need extra help.

• Develop challenges for students who are ahead.

• Share strategies and best practices to improve teaching and learning for all.

Here's How a PLC Helps Your Child:

• Teachers focus on what students need to learn and how to support them.
• Learning teams ask:
   
  1. What are the key skills students should learn?
  2. How will we know they learned them?
  3. What will we do if they’re struggling?
  4. How can we challenge students who are ahead?
      
• Schools create time for teachers to meet and collaborate—because working together leads to better teaching and learning.
• Everyone shares responsibility to make sure no student falls through the cracks.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Helping Every Student Thrive

At SBCUSD, we know every child learns differently. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) helps teachers create lessons that work for all students—whether they need extra support, learn best through visuals or hands-on activities, or are ready for more challenge.

What Does UDL Do?

• Makes learning clear and engaging for every student.

• Uses visuals, audio, and hands-on options to teach.

• Gives students choices in how they show what they know.

UDL helps teachers remove learning barriers so every child can grow, succeed, and feel confident in the classroom.

Teacher Clarity: Clear Goals for Every Student

When students know what they’re learning, why it matters, and how to succeed, they’re more confident, focused, and motivated.

Why It Works:

• Research by John Hattie identifies Teacher Clarity as one of the top strategies to boost learning outcomes.

• Students stay engaged when learning goals and expectations are clear.

What Teachers Provide:

• Learning Intentions: Clear goals (e.g., “We’re learning to write a persuasive argument.”)

• Learning Progressions: Steps to build understanding (e.g., “First, find strong evidence. Then, organize ideas.”)

• Success Criteria: What mastery looks like (e.g., “Your writing has a clear opinion and three strong reasons.”)