ABSTRACT
What is the difference between Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)? Some researchers and academics use these two terms interchangeably, while others contend that they have different meanings. This chapter offers an attempt to clarify the meaning of RTI and MTSS and provide a lexicon of these terms. RTI and MTSS are different. However, some researchers and practitioners continue to use the terms interchangeably. The chapter's goal is to help clarify these differences and to identify a lexicon of terms used for tiered instructional supports: Response to Instruction, Response to Intervention, and MTSS. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support is a general education service delivery model in which all students' individual academic and behavioral needs are supported. The purpose of MTSS is to create school-wide culture in which involved parties adjust supports at every level based on current student data to provide the appropriate level of support immediately, to prevent severe problems from arising.
