Snow Hill Elementary presents MTSS reading strategy; school reports strong K‑grade gains

School leaders from Snow Hill Elementary described how their Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for reading is organized and measured, telling the Worcester County Board the district uses universal screening and targeted interventions to accelerate early literacy.

"Every student in our school is categorized by tiers," Principal Erica Matlock said, explaining that about 80% of students are served in Tier 1 instruction, 10–15% need Tier 2 supports, and roughly 5% receive intensive Tier 3 interventions. Matlock said the school uses DIBELS (8th edition) administered three times a year as the universal screener to identify students who need supplemental reading instruction and to guide progress monitoring.

Matlock and literacy staff described instructional resources and structures used across tiers — naming Wilson Foundations, OG Plus, ARC’s 100 Book Challenge and other evidence‑based materials — and emphasized that targeted intervention time is built into the master schedule to avoid disrupting core instruction. They also said Title I funds are braided to support certified interventionists for Tier 2 and Tier 3 students and that families are invited to partner through events like "1 School, 1 Book" and Parent University.

Presenters showed outcome data they described as "substantial gains": in one kindergarten cohort identified at the start of the year, only 6% remained classified as emergency readers at year’s end, and overall school-wide data showed movement into Tier 1 (on-grade-level) instruction. The team attributed progress to early identification, regular progress monitoring and coordinated interventions.

Superintendent Wallace praised the Snow Hill team as a model for operationalizing MTSS and said the district aims to replicate effective practices across other schools.

All direct quotes are drawn from the board meeting transcript.