In this podcast episode, hosts and guest Curtis discuss the concept of collaborative response, an educational framework designed to replace traditional multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) and response to intervention (RTI) models. The collaborative response model is outlined as consisting of three foundational components: setting up collaborative structures and processes in schools, utilizing data and evidence to inform conversations, and developing a continuum of supports tiered for different needs but not labeling students by tiers. The discussion highlights the importance of focusing on supports rather than labeling students, breaking down the first tier into two to ensure universal supports are coherent across classrooms, and establishing a culture where teacher ego is set aside to facilitate a genuine collaborative environment. The episode explores practical approaches to implementing this model in schools, emphasizing the significance of structured processes, the setting of clear roles and responsibilities, and the cultivation of a collaborative culture that prioritizes student success and involves all educators in a continuous learning process.

• Collaborative Response vs RTI and MTSS. 
• Four tiers
• Tier 1 - All instruction
• Tier 2 - Supports, but still by the classroom teacher
• Tier 3 - Supports provided by someone other than teacher
• Tier 4 - Supports provided by outside the school
• Tiering supports vs. Tiering students
• Responsibility of student success
• Collaborative team meetings
• A key issue that a student is facing. 
• Collaborative culture
• So much more powerful to have the culture and then document it, rather than announce it aspirationally. 
• 5 ways to transform meetings free guide

About Kurtis Hewson

Kurtis Hewson is an award-winning former administrator and teacher, as well as teaching faculty at the post-secondary level.  He is the co-founder of Jigsaw Learning, a co-author of the text Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners (Corwin, 2022), and currently works with districts and schools nationally and internationally establishing Collaborative Response frameworks and interacting with thousands of educators annually.

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