Quality First Instruction

triangle with tier 3 intensive at the top, tier 2 targeted learners in the middle, and tier 1 first best instruction at the base, including additional supports, appropriate challenge, academic urgency, equitable engagement, interpersonal skills, real-world authenticity, and awareness of progress

Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) address the academic and behavioral needs of learners. Interventions for learners are implemented using a data-based, problem-solving process that matches the level of support to the needs of the learner, taking into account the learner’s assets and deficits. Effective universal instruction and intervention are provided for all learners, including learners with disabilities who need various levels of support to master content standards at grade level.

According to the MTSS model, Quality Tier 1 First Instruction should meet the needs of the majority of learners. 80 percent of learners should succeed with this instructional approach. A learner’s behaviors, skills, and dispositions of the Instructional Look Fors exemplify the outcomes of Tier 1 instruction, including access and interaction with challenging content, equitable engagement, learner agency, and relevant learning experiences.

The district has prioritized 7 Instructional Look Fors as supporting Lindsay’s Tier 1 model, indicated by Tier 1 icons.

image of a teacher talking to a student with the words academic urgency
image with a teacher talking to students with the words appropriate challenge
image of a teacher talking to students with the words additional supports
image of a student reading with the words awareness of progress
image of students holding a beaker with the words equitable engagement
image of students on laptops with the words interpersonal skills
image of students with a teacher with the words real-world authenticity