MTSS² is the answer to that problem. It’s MTSS squared for systems of support AND student success. It was built to get the right data in the right order so teams can move from guessing to targeted action. In this post, I’ll share why the old way breaks down, what MTSS² changes, and how any school can start tomorrow.

MTSS²: How to Fix Your Broken Pre-Referral Process!

For years, I watched well-intentioned pre-referral processes do the opposite of what schools hoped. They slowed support. They made teachers “prove” a problem before acting. They turned caring adults into document chasers, while students quietly fell further behind. What started as a path to help became an obstacle course.

The Pre-Referral Trap (And Why It’s So Hard to Escape)

  • Delay help while teams “gather data.”

  • Over-test without clarifying next steps.

  • Fragment effort because people, time, and tools aren’t aligned.

  • Prioritize forms over learning, where red tape wins, progress loses.

  • Delay legal obligations such as Child Find.

MTSS² flips that script. It doesn’t add another initiative. It tightens the system you already have so it works for students and for the adults serving them.

If you’ve sat through a pre-referral meeting, you know the pattern:

A student is struggling.

Meetings multiply before instruction changes.

The student waits.

Pre-referral wasn’t built for a world of unfinished learning, staffing shortages, and increasing outcome gaps. It tends to:

We start collecting “evidence.”

Weeks (sometimes months) go by.

The MTSS² Promise: Intentional, Layered, Efficient

At its core, MTSS² is a way of thinking and working that keeps teams focused on decisions that matter:

Intentional

Every step ties to a clear decision with no data for data’s sake.

Layered

Information moves from broad to precise, so you test less and teach more.

Efficient

Adults spend their time where it counts: instruction and feedback.

When schools adopt this approach, teachers stop asking, “What else do you want me to try?” and start saying, “Here’s what we’ll teach next and how we’ll measure it.”

The Four Data Lenses

MTSS² balances four types of data so you avoid tunnel vision:

When teams look through all four lenses, they make better, faster decisions and spend less time arguing about anecdotes.

1. Outcomes Data:
State tests, benchmarks, graduation indicators

2. Instructional Data:
Curriculum-embedded tasks, unit assessments, formative checks

3. Perspectives Data:
Student, teacher, and family voice (surveys, interviews, observations)

4. Systems Data:
Staffing, schedules, materials, and processes that either enable or block equity

The Four Stages of Assessment Decision-Making

Here’s the heartbeat of MTSS². Each stage answers a different question; together, they prevent over-testing and guide precise instruction.

The four stages move teams from broad identification to targeted action fast.

Stage 1.  Universal Screening
Guiding question: Who may need support? They flag risk quickly and predict who might struggle without pretending to diagnose a root cause.

Stage 2.  Diagnostic Screening:
Guiding question: Which domain or subdomain needs attention? This is where teams move from “Who?” to “What?”.

Stage 3. Skill-Specific Diagnostics
Guiding question: Exactly what do we teach next and how do we group students? They’re essential for Tier 2B and Tier 3, where precision matters most.

Stage 4.  Comprehensive Data Synthesis
Guiding question: What is the most equitable, well-rounded plan? We integrate everything (e.g. assessment results, classroom performance, WIN block data, ACCESS, attendance, SEL, behavior notes, and family/teacher input) to finalize or revise support.

Bulk Perk Orders

  • Gold Tier

    Covers multiple districts

  • 5,000+ seats

    Custom course development included

  • 10,000+ seats

    Fully tailored PD experiences

Graduate Course Add-On
Elevate Your PD Even Further!

Need even more learning power? Our graduate course add-on includes:

16 additional hours of content

Expert instructor feedback & grading

University-accredited graduate credit options

Hassle-Free Registration

Don’t let budget cuts limit your staff’s growth!
Invest in cost-effective, high-quality professional learning that makes an impact.

Make the smartest investment for your educators—give them 100 hours of high-impact PD for a fraction of the cost. Let LearnEd power up your district’s professional learning!

Contact us at

sales@cca-pr.com

to discuss custom packages, pricing, and next steps.

Click the button below to go back to the main Education page