About MIM

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Overview

Central in the Missouri Integrated Model framework is a focus on supporting academic achievement and successful behavior through tiered levels of support that acknowledge and address diversity in student learning.

Eleven common essential features were identified that represent the practices and qualities congruent with effective schools, responsive intervention, and successful system-change efforts. Collectively, the tiered levels of support and the essential features are integrated to form the Missouri Integrated Model. The eleven essential features serve two functions: to provide a structure for problem solving education needs, and to help school staff respond more effectively to the instructional needs of all students.

The Missouri Integrated Model includes three tiers of support for instructing students in academic and behavior areas. The intensity of support increases from Tier 1 to Tier 3. Instructional supports change as students demonstrate differing responses to the general curriculum and consequently differing levels of support needs. All tiers of support are provided in the context of the general curriculum, movement between levels of support is seamless, and decisions for moving students between tiers is based on data.

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Tier 1Tier 1 is the universal level comprised of the core, evidence-based curriculum available for all students. Foundational to the Missouri Integrated Model is the provision of quality instruction within a quality curriculum. When the core curriculum is implemented with fidelity, it is estimated that 80-90% of students will be successful.

Tier 2Tier 2 is comprised of the core curriculum plus timely, targeted instruction for students needing additional instructional or behavioral supports. When schools (a) implement quality curriculum and instruction with fidelity and (b) engage in systematic progress monitoring, they are able to identify students demonstrating needs for additional supports. Students that are struggling to make progress in the core curriculum are provided with supports targeting specific areas of need. Often, this supplemental instruction is provided in small groups. The supplement interventions retain the integrity of being evidence-based and involve ongoing progress monitoring. It is estimated that 10-15% of students will respond to Tier 2 supports.

Tier 3In Tier 3 the core curriculum is supplemented with intensive, individualized supports. While receiving Tier 1 and then Tier 2 supports, some students may demonstrate a unique and specialized need for intensive supports. It is estimated that 1-5% of students will demonstrate a need for Tier 3 supports. Consistent throughout the tiered levels of support is the emphasis on data-based decision making. For students continuing to struggle despite Tier 2 support, more individually-focused problem solving is required. Individualized, evidence-based, and more intensive interventions, plus focused progress monitoring, are characteristic of Tier 3 supports.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education works with educators, legislators, agencies and citizens through its statewide school-improvement initiatives and regulatory functions to assure that all citizens have access to high-quality public education from early childhood to adult education.

dese.mo.gov »