MTSS/PBIS/5starstudents

Supporting Every Student: Understanding MTSS, PBIS, and 5-Star Students at SUHSD

At Salinas Union High School District, we are committed to helping every student succeed, academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. To do this, we use a comprehensive support framework called MTSS, which includes tools like PBIS and systems like 5-Star Students to guide and recognize student growth.

What is MTSS?

MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) is a district-wide framework that ensures students get the right support at the right time. It looks at the whole child by addressing three main areas:

Academics
Behavior & Social-Emotional Needs
College & Career Readiness

MTSS helps teachers and staff identify students who may need additional support and then provides targeted strategies or interventions to help those students succeed.

Think of MTSS as a 3-level pyramid:

Tier 1: Support for all students (like school-wide lessons, routines, and expectations)
Tier 2: Extra help for some students who need more support
Tier 3: Intensive, individualized support for students with the greatest needs

What is PBIS?

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a part of the MTSS system that focuses specifically on positive behavior and school climate.

PBIS helps schools:

Teach expected behaviors
Reinforce good choices
Build positive relationships between students and staff
Create safer, more respectful learning environments

PBIS is one part of the larger MTSS framework. While PBIS focuses on behavior, MTSS also includes academics, mental health, attendance, and readiness for life after high school.

How 5-Star Students Helps

To support our MTSS and PBIS efforts, SUHSD uses a tool called 5-Star Students. This program helps schools:

Track student participation in school events and activities
Recognize students who show positive behavior, good attendance, and academic effort
Create fun incentives and rewards for involvement
Monitor trends to ensure all students feel included and connected

Through 5-Star Students, families may see students earning points, rewards, or recognition for showing leadership, being responsible, participating in school events, or improving attendance. It’s a fun and meaningful way to celebrate students' growth and engagement.

Why This Matters for Families

You’ll see schools using MTSS to better support your student individual needs, whether they need academic help, counseling, or just encouragement to stay involved.
Your student may participate in PBIS lessons that help them build social skills and make positive choices.
And through 5-Star Students, they’ll be encouraged and recognized for their efforts, involvement, and improvement.

Together, MTSS, PBIS, and 5-Star Students help make SUHSD schools more supportive, inclusive, and student-centered.

Have questions or want to learn more?
Please reach out to your school’s administration or counseling office. We’re here to help!

Apoyando a Cada Estudiante: Comprendiendo MTSS, PBIS y 5-Star Students en SUHSD

En el Distrito Escolar Secundario Unificado de Salinas (SUHSD), estamos comprometidos a ayudar a cada estudiante a tener éxito académica, conductual, social y emocionalmente. Para lograrlo, usamos un marco integral de apoyo llamado MTSS, que incluye herramientas como PBIS y sistemas como 5-Star Students para guiar y reconocer el crecimiento estudiantil.

¿Qué es MTSS?

MTSS (Sistema de Apoyos de Múltiples Niveles) es un marco utilizado en todo el distrito para asegurar que los estudiantes reciban el apoyo correcto en el momento adecuado. Se enfoca en el estudiante como un todo, abordando tres áreas principales:

Académica
Conductual y socioemocional
Preparación para la universidad y la carrera

MTSS ayuda a los maestros y al personal a identificar a los estudiantes que puedan necesitar apoyo adicional y luego provee estrategias o intervenciones específicas para ayudarlos a tener éxito.

Piense en MTSS como una pirámide de tres niveles:

Nivel 1: Apoyo para todos los estudiantes (como lecciones, rutinas y expectativas en toda la escuela)
Nivel 2: Apoyo adicional para algunos estudiantes que necesitan más ayuda
Nivel 3: Apoyo intensivo e individualizado para los estudiantes con mayores necesidades

¿Qué es PBIS?

PBIS (Intervenciones y Apoyos Conductuales Positivos) es una parte del sistema MTSS que se enfoca específicamente en la conducta positiva y el ambiente escolar.

PBIS ayuda a las escuelas a:

Enseñar comportamientos esperados
Reforzar buenas decisiones
Fomentar relaciones positivas entre estudiantes y personal
Crear entornos de aprendizaje más seguros y respetuosos

PBIS es solo una parte del marco más amplio de MTSS. Mientras PBIS se enfoca en la conducta, MTSS también incluye lo académico, la salud mental, la asistencia y la preparación para la vida después de la secundaria.

¿Cómo Ayuda 5-Star Students?

Para apoyar nuestros esfuerzos con MTSS y PBIS, SUHSD utiliza una herramienta llamada 5-Star Students. Este programa ayuda a las escuelas a:

Registrar la participación estudiantil en eventos y actividades escolares
Reconocer a los estudiantes que demuestran buena conducta, asistencia regular y esfuerzo académico
Crear incentivos y recompensas divertidas para fomentar la participación
Monitorear tendencias para asegurar que todos los estudiantes se sientan incluidos y conectados

A través de 5-Star Students, las familias pueden ver a sus hijos/as ganar puntos, premios o reconocimientos por demostrar liderazgo, responsabilidad, participación en eventos escolares o mejora en la asistencia. Es una forma divertida y significativa de celebrar el crecimiento y la participación estudiantil.

¿Por Qué Es Importante Para Las Familias?

Verá que las escuelas utilizan MTSS para apoyar mejor las necesidades individuales de su hijo/a, ya sea que necesite ayuda académica, consejería o simplemente motivación para involucrarse más.
Su estudiante puede participar en lecciones de PBIS que le ayudarán a desarrollar habilidades sociales y tomar decisiones positivas.
Y a través de 5-Star Students, será motivado y reconocido por su esfuerzo, participación y mejora.

Juntos, MTSS, PBIS y 5-Star Students ayudan a que las escuelas de SUHSD sean más solidarias, inclusivas y centradas en el estudiante.

¿Tiene preguntas o desea más información?

Por favor, comuníquese con la administración o la oficina de consejería de su escuela. ¡Estamos aquí para ayudarle!

Tier 1 - Strategies

Academic Tier 1 Strategies

High-quality, evidence-based instruction aligned to standards
Clear learning targets and success criteria
Regular formative assessments with timely feedback
Differentiated instruction to address diverse learning styles
Access to grade-level curriculum with appropriate scaffolds
Collaborative learning and engagement strategies
Clear expectations for homework, participation, and effort

College & Career Readiness Tier 1 Strategies

Exposure to career exploration platforms (e.g., CCGI)
Academic and 4-year planning for all students
Schoolwide college/career events and advisory lessons
Regular communication about A–G requirements and graduation goals
Opportunities to connect with mentors, college reps, or CTE pathways

Behavior & Social-Emotional Tier 1 Strategies (PBIS-aligned)

Clearly taught school-wide behavior expectations (e.g., Respect, Responsibility, Readiness)
Positive behavior reinforcement systems (e.g., 5-Star Students)
School-wide social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum
Clear routines and transitions across all settings
Restorative practices
Attendance recognition and relationship-building activities
Consistent response protocols for behavior and discipline

Climate & Culture Tier 1 Strategies

Safe and inclusive school environments
Regular communication with families in multiple languages
Student voice and leadership opportunities (e.g., ASB, clubs)
Celebrations of student success, attendance, and involvement
Anti-bullying and digital citizenship education

Outcome

When Tier 1 is implemented effectively, 80–90% of students should be successful without additional intervention.

Tier 2 - Strategies

What Are Tier 2 Supports?

Tier 2 strategies are designed for students who need more help than what’s provided in universal Tier 1 supports. These interventions are targeted, small-group, or short-term and are often data-informed and progress-monitored.

Roughly 10–15% of students may benefit from Tier 2 supports at any given time.

Academic Tier 2 Strategies

Small group instruction focused on specific skill gaps
Targeted tutoring before/after school or during advisory
Tiered reading/math interventions
Skill-based academic workshops (note-taking, test-taking, organization)
Monitoring through grade checks, missing work reports, and teacher feedback
Check-ins with counselors or intervention staff

College & Career Readiness Tier 2 Strategies

Individual or small group support with CCGI planning tools
Targeted support for students off-track in A–G or graduation credits
Career interest inventory follow-ups and job shadowing
Intervention workshops for credit recovery or summer school enrollment
Targeted advisement for students at risk of not completing FAFSA/CADAA

Behavior & Social-Emotional Tier 2 Strategies (PBIS-aligned)

Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) with a trusted adult (daily goal setting and feedback)
Small-group social skills instruction (e.g., conflict resolution, anger management)
Counseling groups (e.g., grief, anxiety, attendance motivation)
Behavior contracts or self-monitoring tools
Restorative chats or reflection sessions after repeated minor behaviors
Tier 2 behavior data monitoring via PBIS or behavior logs

Attendance & Engagement Tier 2 Strategies

Attendance Success Plans (ASP)
Parent contact + student goal-setting meetings
Tier 2 student attendance tracking using tools like 5-Star Students
Participation incentives or recognition for improvement
Referrals to SART (School Attendance Review Team) or SST

Family & School Connection Tier 2 Strategies

Individual or small-group parent meetings (counselor, AP, support staff)
Translation/interpreter services for family meetings
Personalized communication (calls, texts, conferences)
Invitations to targeted events (family nights, intervention meetings)

Progress Monitoring

Frequent check-ins and data review (e.g., every 4–6 weeks)
Tier 2 intervention tracking through SST notes or MTSS dashboards
Adjustments made based on student response

Key Tier 2 Success Factors

Early identification (grades, attendance, behavior, SEL screeners)
Timely interventions with clear entry/exit criteria
Connection to caring adults
Consistency and follow-through

The Salinas Union High School District (SUHSD) is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education and in employment. SUHSD prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, national origin, parental status, pregnancy status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. If you believe you, or your student, have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying you should contact your school site principal and/or the District’s Chief Compliance and Title IX Officer, Anthony Hinton, by email at anthony.hinton@salinasuhsd.org, or in person at 431 W. Alisal St. Salinas, CA 93901.

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