What are the best practices for implementing MTSS to support student behavior?
How to Use MTSS in Behavior Support Systems
Supporting student behavior is one of the most pressing and complex responsibilities in any school. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. Reactive discipline systems, detentions, suspensions, office referrals, may manage behavior in the moment, but they do little to address root causes.
That’s where a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) comes in.
MTSS is not just an academic framework. When applied to behavior, it becomes a schoolwide roadmap for proactively addressing students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs, before problems escalate.
But to make it work, it takes more than classroom management strategies. It requires strong leadership, a united staff, and systems that support students at every level.
What Is MTSS for Behavior?
At its core, MTSS is about tiered support. Every student receives the support they need, not just the ones who raise red flags.
The Three Tiers of Behavioral MTSS:
Tier 1 (Universal Supports): Schoolwide expectations, positive behavior reinforcement, SEL instruction, consistent procedures.
Tier 2 (Targeted Supports): Check-ins/check-outs, small-group interventions, behavior contracts, social skills groups.
Tier 3 (Intensive Supports): Individualized behavior plans, functional behavior assessments (FBAs), wraparound services.
The goal is prevention and early response, not punishment.
Why Principals and Administrators Matter
MTSS for behavior is not a classroom-only system. It requires leadership at every level, especially from school administrators.
Principals and Assistant Principals Play a Central Role:
Modeling calm, consistent behavior responses
Leading professional development on trauma-informed practices, SEL, and de-escalation
Allocating time and staffing for intervention periods or social-emotional groups
Using behavior data to inform decisions, not just for accountability, but for support
Coaching teachers through Tier 1 classroom practices and team-based problem-solving
When administrators treat behavior support as part of whole-school instruction, staff follow their lead.
6 Best Practices for Implementing MTSS for Behavior
Implementing MTSS for behavior can feel overwhelming, but the process becomes manageable when broken into clear phases.
1. Establish Clear, Schoolwide Expectations
Start with 3-5 positively stated behavior expectations everyone can remember and apply (e.g., Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Ready).
Ensure:
Expectations are posted in classrooms and hallways
Teachers teach and reteach behaviors like they do academics
Students are acknowledged with positive reinforcement (verbal praise, tickets, house points, etc.)
2. Use Behavior Data Not Just Referrals
MTSS relies on data-driven decision-making. Go beyond tracking who gets sent to the office.
Track:
Minor behaviors by type (e.g., off-task, disruption)
Location, time, and frequency of incidents
Who is not responding to Tier 1 supports
Use this data to:
Identify patterns
Create student behavior support plans
Adjust Tier 1 systems before implementing Tier 2 or 3
3. Create a Behavioral Intervention Team
Form a multidisciplinary team that meets regularly to review data and assign supports. Include:
Principal or AP
School counselor or psychologist
General and special education teachers
Behavior specialist or MTSS coordinator (if available)
Their job: to identify students who need additional support, brainstorm next steps, and monitor progress.
4. Design Tier 2 Interventions That Work
Tier 2 students often benefit from:
Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) with a staff mentor
Social-emotional skill groups (e.g., managing anger, handling peer conflict)
Behavior goal tracking and home-school communication
These supports should be:
Time-limited but structured
Data-monitored weekly
Flexible based on student response
5. Individualize Tier 3 Supports with Empathy
When Tier 2 isn’t enough, Tier 3 provides intensive, personalized support. Best practices include:
Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
Collaboration with outside agencies or mental health providers
Wraparound planning with family involvement
The focus shifts from “What’s wrong with this student?” to “What’s happening with this student and how can we help?”
6. Build Staff Capacity Through Ongoing Support
Teachers are the daily implementers of MTSS, but many feel underprepared to manage behavior effectively.
Offer:
PD on trauma-informed practices, de-escalation, SEL, and equity
Regular time for collaboration (behavior team meetings, PLCs)
Admin-led walkthroughs that support, not penalize, behavior strategy implementation
The message should be: we’re in this together, and there’s a structure to lean on.
What It Looks Like in Practice
Elementary Example
Tier 1: Schoolwide morning meetings and a visual schedule in every room
Tier 2: Check-In/Check-Out program with student mentors
Tier 3: Behavior plan with weekly team meetings and family input
Middle School Example
Tier 1: PBIS lessons taught in advisory, with consistent hallway expectations
Tier 2: Restorative circles and self-regulation lunch groups
Tier 3: Weekly counseling sessions and FBA-driven behavior supports
High School Example
Tier 1: Clear code of conduct, SEL Fridays, and peer leadership training
Tier 2: Attendance intervention groups and conflict resolution sessions
Tier 3: Individual wraparound planning, mental health services, and staff mentors
Positive behavior support plans encourage students to take responsibility and learn through guided interaction.
Common Missteps and How to Avoid Them
Over-relying on discipline without teaching behavior | Fix: Treat behavior as a skill. Teach, model, and reinforce it.
Tier 2 and 3 supports happen in silos | Fix: Ensure collaboration across roles. Use one behavior data system and unified meeting structures.
Staff unclear on their role in behavior support | Fix: Clarify responsibilities at each tier. Offer cheat sheets and coaching from admin or counselors.
Final Thoughts: MTSS Makes Behavior Everyone’s Responsibility
Behavior support is most effective when it’s proactive, collaborative, and embedded in the school culture. MTSS gives schools the structure to do just that, but only if administrators, counselors, and teachers work together. Students don’t need punishment. They need structure, support, and someone who believes in their ability to grow.
Looking for step-by-step guidance?
Check out Inclusive Classroom Resource Pack — strategies and templates for fostering equity and supporting diverse learners. Also included in the Inclusive & Supportive Teaching Pack.
Inclusive Classroom Resource Pack
Why Teachers Love It: Teachers love it because it provides practical strategies to support diverse learners and helps make every student feel seen, valued, and included.
Build a Caring & Inclusive Classroom - Foster belonging, support student well-being, and guide smooth transitions with this inclusive teaching resource bundle. Why Teachers Love It: Makes it easy to integrate SEL and DEI practices into everyday routines.