Student Support Services

Student Support Services Department is responsible for compliance for Section 504.

A Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a comprehensive framework comprised of a collection of research-based strategies designed to meet the individual needs and assets of the whole child. MTSS intentionally interconnects the education, health, and human service systems in support of successful learners, schools, centers, and community outcomes. The five essential components of MTSS are inter-related and complementary. The MTSS framework provides schools and districts with an efficient way to organize resources to support educators in the implementation of effective practices with fidelity so that all learners succeed.

Guiding Principles

MTSS is guided by the following principles:

• A collective responsibility for ensuring growth and success for all learners is assumed by each person within the system (educators, learners, families, and community)

• A proactive approach to ensuring that each and every learner experiences a quality education designed to expand learners' potential

• A commitment to use a systematic problem-solving process to improve outcomes of all learners 

• A commitment to ongoing, effective support for educators and leaders including professional learning, feedback, and coaching

• A commitment to use data as a basis for information gathering and to avoid making assumptions

• Attention to fidelity of implementation, honoring both qualitative and quantitative measures

• An investment in systems to promote durability and the scaling up of MTSS

Essential Components 

• Team-Based Leadership
• Tiered Deliver System of Core Instruction, Interventions and Services
• Selection and Implementation of Instruction, Interventions and Supports 
• Comprehensive Screening & Assessment System
• Continuous Data-Based Decision Making 

Source: Michigan Department of Education

Novi Community School District has a full continuum of service providers who work within our system of supports. Each building has a Literacy and Math Specialist who provide intensive academic intervention for students identified as in need based on established criteria.  Our intervention team monitors student progress to ensure learners are receiving the supports they need to make growth.  

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a universal approach for all students.  The goal of SEL is to address the social and emotional needs individuals have to be successful in school and in life.  Developing SEL skills improves student capacity to engage in academic learning and prepares students to meet college and career readiness standards.  In order to participate in rigorous standards, students need to be able to regulate their emotions when they become frustrated, collaborate with their peers, communicate their ideas, and take the perspective of others.  In addition, focusing on SEL skills decreased negative behaviors and student emotional distress. 

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) identifies five social and emotional competencies, which are composed of multiple skills and abilities:

• Self-awareness is the ability to recognize one's own feelings, interests, strengths, and limitations

• Self-management refers to when individuals regulate emotions and manage daily stressors

• Social awareness refers to perspective taking and to appreciate similarities and differences

• Relationship skills are when individuals exhibit prosocial behavior and demonstrate positive social skills in order to develop meaningful relationships

• Responsible decision making refers to when individuals make ethical decisions, and strengthen the ability to develop appropriate solutions to identified problems 

Novi Community School District has School Social Workers and School Counselors who support the Social and Emotional needs of students.  Novi utilizes Social Emotional Learning Curriculums to provide small and large group lessons.