In the world of education, few acronyms are used more frequently—and more interchangeably—than RTI (Response to Intervention) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports). While they are closely related, they are not the same. Understanding the distinction between RTI vs. MTSS can help school leaders, teachers, and support staff implement systems that are not only more effective, but also more sustainable and equitable.
As a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) supporting school districts across the country, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for school teams to build a shared understanding of these frameworks. That shared language becomes the foundation for consistent practices that actually help students—and reduce stress on educators.
Let’s dive into what each framework is, how they differ, and how schools can use both to meet the needs of all learners.
What Is RTI?
Response to Intervention (RTI) is an educational framework focused on early identification and support for students who are struggling academically. Originating in the early 2000s, RTI was developed in part as a response to concerns about how learning disabilities were being identified—and how long students were waiting to receive support.
The core idea behind RTI is simple:
Provide high-quality instruction and monitor all students’ progress. If a student is not responding to instruction, intervene early and systematically.
Key Features of RTI:
– Tiered Instruction:
RTI typically includes three tiers of support:
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- Tier 1: High-quality, evidence-based instruction for all students
- Tier 2: Targeted small-group interventions for students who need more support
- Tier 3: Intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant needs
– Progress Monitoring:
Students’ progress is tracked over time to determine if interventions are effective or need to be adjusted.
– Data-Based Decision Making:
Educators use assessment data to decide when and how to intensify support.
What Is MTSS?
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a broader, more comprehensive framework that includes RTI, but goes beyond academics to address the whole child. MTSS integrates supports for academic performance, behavior, social-emotional skills, and attendance, creating a more cohesive and aligned system of support across a school or district.
Key Features of MTSS:
– Whole-Child Focus:
MTSS is not limited to academics. It incorporates behavior and social-emotional learning (SEL), recognizing that these areas are interconnected.
– Unified Framework:
Rather than having separate systems for academics and behavior (e.g., RTI for reading, PBIS for behavior), MTSS brings all supports under one umbrella.
– Proactive and Preventive:
Like RTI, MTSS is rooted in the idea of early identification and tiered intervention. However, it emphasizes prevention and system-wide practices even more strongly.
– Collaboration Across Roles:
MTSS requires coordination between general education teachers, interventionists, special education staff, school psychologists, behavior specialists, and administrators.
– Equity-Centered:
A well-implemented MTSS framework helps ensure all students—especially those historically underserved—have access to high-quality instruction and timely intervention.
If you want to learn more about MTSS, read our article explaining its core components and how they work together.
RTI vs. MTSS: How are they Different?
While RTI is one piece of the MTSS framework, there are important differences in scope, application, and focus:
Why Does This Distinction Matter?
Many schools implement parts of RTI or MTSS without fully realizing the benefits—simply because the systems aren’t aligned. When academic and behavioral supports operate separately, it can lead to:
- Confusion among staff
- Inconsistent practices across classrooms or grade levels
- Gaps in communication between academic and support teams
- Duplicated efforts that waste time and resources
By embracing MTSS as the broader framework and understanding RTI as an essential academic component within it, schools can:
- Streamline their processes
- Increase collaboration
- Deliver supports more equitably and efficiently
What Does Strong MTSS and RTI Implementation Look Like?
In districts we’ve supported through Behavior Advantage, strong MTSS implementation typically includes:
- Robust Tier 1 practices across academics and behavior, supported by high-quality PD
- Clear and accessible tiered intervention pathways
- Collaborative problem-solving teams that meet regularly and use data to guide decisions.
- Easy-to-use tools for documenting, monitoring, and adjusting support plans
- A culture of shared ownership where all staff feel empowered and supported
When MTSS is working well, it doesn’t feel like another thing—it becomes the way a school operates.
Want to build an effective MTSS Team, we have compiled a list of tips to get you started.
Behavior Advantage: Supporting Scalable Practices for Tiered Behavior Support
At Behavior Advantage, we specialize in helping districts develop and implement scalable, practical behavior supports that fit seamlessly within an MTSS framework. Our tools are designed to simplify behavior planning, provide meaningful training for staff, and align supports across all three tiers.
Whether you’re just beginning your MTSS journey or looking to strengthen your behavior systems, we’re here to help schools build capacity and create sustainable systems that support both educators and students.
Take, for example, a student who is struggling in both academics and behavior – frequent disruptions, off-task behavior, and difficulty following classroom routines. The school’s problem-solving team meets and decides to enroll the student in a Tier 2 intervention: Check-In/Check-Out (CICO). Using Behavior Advantage, the team is able to quickly set up the plan, collect daily progress data, and monitor trends using automatically generated graphs.
After four weeks of implementation, the team reviews the data and notices that the student has not made meaningful progress. Because Behavior Advantage makes it easy to visualize trends and analyze effectiveness, the team is able to act quickly. They decide to move toward a more targeted support by developing a Simple Behavior Intervention Plan. Within the platform, they define the specific behavior of concern, and outline practical strategies to prevent the behavior, teach new replacement skills, and respond in ways that de-escalate and support the student more effectively.
The teacher continues to use CICO data for daily monitoring, now with added clarity and alignment to the behavior plan. Within just two weeks of implementing the new supports, the student begins showing progress – demonstrating the replacement behaviors with fewer prompts and significantly reducing the frequency of disruptive incidents.
This example reflects how Behavior Advantage helps school teams move seamlessly between tiers of support, maintain clarity and consistency in implementation, and use data to guide timely decision-making—all while reducing the paperwork and complexity that often slow down the process.
Conclusion
RTI and MTSS are powerful frameworks when understood and used effectively. RTI gives schools a process for identifying and supporting students struggling academically. MTSS expands that vision to ensure all students—regardless of their academic, behavioral, or emotional needs—have access to the right support at the right time.
By understanding the differences and building a unified system, schools can move beyond compliance and toward a culture of prevention, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
If your team is working to strengthen tiered behavior support within an MTSS framework, Behavior Advantage would love to support your efforts. Schedule your free demo today!
