Learn to distinguish between typical second language development and the needs of students who may demonstrate academic difficulties or possible disabilities and develop a proactive plan for effective classroom interventions to promote student success.

The Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) process is designed to assist in the identification of all students who need additional support in the classroom, school environment, and in online instruction. These students may include those who are working to acquire English as a second language, students who face academic difficulties due to factors such as low socio-economic status (SES), poor quality instruction, or other intervening factors; those students who may have an undiagnosed learning issue, or those who may need assistance due to interrupted or limited schooling.

Successful implementation of the MTSS [also referred to as Response to Intervention (RTI)] process is key to ensuring that English learners receive appropriate intervention to maximize their academic achievement and language acquisition and are not disproportionately identified for special education services.

This workshop will focus on the MTSS process as it relates to the growing number of students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds as they work to acquire a new language and succeed in the classroom.

During this four-day informative workshop, participants will examine the steps of the MTSS process; differentiate among the characteristics of second language acquisition, learning difficulties, cultural differences and influences and issues for students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE); and identify the process for the development of an MTSS plan that will promote students’ academic as well as linguistic success. Participants will also review instructional practices that support teachers’ implementation of MTSS plans in the classroom; discuss with colleagues and team members the processes for monitoring and documenting student progress; identify curriculum development and instructional practices to support classroom/content areas teachers with Tier 1, 2, and 3 students; and, explore issues that challenge the practice of correctly identifying and assessing English learners with possible learning disabilities.

Participants will review case studies and consider possible areas for observation, data collection, assessment, interventions, and key points of discussion for school/district faculty, staff, related service providers, and administrators regarding academic achievement and second language acquisition. As a blend of synchronous and asynchronous online content, this workshop will include a variety of activities, such as jigsaw/partner readings, small group tasks, analysis of instructional strategies that support Tiers 1, 2, and 3 interventions, and the development of instructional goals and implementation plans.

This interactive institute is designed for K-12 general education/content area teachers, English as a Second Language educators, Title I teachers, ELL coordinators, administrators, and school personnel/related service providers and interventionists who are either members of MTSS teams, or who support the MTSS process in their schools. Special education teachers, coaches, and district personnel who are active in their schools’ MTSS planning and implementation are encouraged to attend as turnkey support. MTSS team members are encouraged to attend together to allow for a collaborative approach in developing effective English learner implementation plans for their schools or districts.

Based on an interactive flipped classroom model, this cohort will participate in both synchronous and asynchronous online learning. The synchronous portion will entail participants attending 4 4.5-hour live, online sessions.  Through an asynchronous, self-paced format, participants will complete six hours of online activities that supplement the presentations. They will listen to recorded mini-lectures, read relevant research articles, discuss with colleagues, apply what they learn to their Needs Assessment, and interact with other participants through discussion boards and blog posts. Participants will have the opportunity to meet online with CAL facilitators weekly to discuss best practices, and network with other educators from other schools or districts.

Questions? Email CAL with any questions you may have about our offerings.

Agenda

March 3, 2025: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET

• Introduction to MTSS
• Second Language Acquisition
• Differentiation between second language acquisition and learning Disabilities

March 10, 2025: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET

• Overview of MTSS
• Review RTI vs MTSS
• Defining Tiers 1, 2, and 3
• Goals, Language Planning, Universal Screening, Monitoring & Assessment
• Conducting Needs Assessment

March 24, 2025: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET

• Support for Tier 1 teachers in general education and for teachers with Tier 2 & 3 ELs in their classes
• Scaffolding vs. Differentiation
• Supporting Tier 1 Instruction by Adapting Curriculum

March 31, 2025: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET

• Next Steps when intervention fails
• EL Toolkit – Special Education Evaluation Process
• Developing Linguistically Appropriate IEP Goals
• Role and Rights of Parents/Guardians

Self-Paced Content

• Participants will be expected to complete 4 hours of self-paced, asynchronous work in CAL’s designated online learning management platform

Schedule

• Four 4.5-hour synchronous, mini-workshop sessions, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET on March 3, 10, 24, and 31, 2025
• Self-paced, asynchronous content approximately 1 hour per week between March 3, 10, 24, and 31, 2025
• Note: the asynchronous portion will be available for access for one year.

Cost

• Early bird pricing prior to Jan 21, 2025: $1,265 per person
• Individual price after Jan 21, 2025: $1,470/person.
• Send 2 people or more and pay $1,265 each.
• Cost includes all training materials
• Register early, as space is limited.
• Registration ends Feb 21, 2025

Cost includes the following materials*:

• Trainer’s handout packet and handout of the POWERPOINT
• Links to digital activities

Venue

This Institute will be held online through a combination of interactive online web conferences and through self-paced assignments to be completed in CAL’s online learning platform.

Certificate of Completion

Participants will receive a CAL Digital Badge for 22 hours of attendance and engagement. A “CAL MTSS Educator Level 1” badge will be issued through the Credly platform as a digital representation of an experience and learning at the end of an institute or workshop.

Policies

Registration

To reserve your seat for this institute, please complete the online registration process. Please be aware that your seat at the workshop will only be confirmed once payment is received. If you are registering multiple participants, please have the names, titles, schools, and email addresses available before you begin the registration process. We encourage you to register as soon as possible, as many workshops fill up quickly.

Payment

Before beginning the registration process, please determine your preferred method of payment (credit card, check, or purchase order). When paying by credit card using the online registration system, your seat will be immediately confirmed, and you will receive a confirmation email upon successful completion of the transaction. CAL accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and VISA. For registrations to be paid by purchase order or check, please note that your seat will be tentatively reserved until payment is received. Once the payment is received, you will receive a confirmation email. There will be a fee of $15.00 for each check returned as uncollectible. Purchase orders should be uploaded directly to the registration system or emailed to payables@cal.org. For payment by check, or to pay for purchase orders, please make payable to the Center for Applied Linguistics and mail it to: Accounts Receivable, Center for Applied Linguistics, 4646 40th Street NW, Washington, DC 20016.

Cancellation Policy

Registrants: We encourage participants to let CAL know as soon as possible if they do not plan to attend the session. Participants may cancel their registration and receive a full refund up to three (3) weeks prior to the institute start date by sending an email to solutions@cal.org. After that date, no refunds will be available. However, registrants may choose to receive the institute materials by mail, postpone their attendance to a future CAL Institute, or transfer the registration to another individual up to three (3) days prior to the course start date. Contact us to discuss your options.

CAL: CAL reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment or for reasons beyond our control. If we exercise this right, we will refund any registration fees which you have paid in advance. In some instances, registrants may have the option to transfer their registration to another event.

Fair Use of Materials

Individuals who have completed CAL training and workshops have permission from CAL to use materials while providing professional development to educators in their schools or school districts. These materials cannot be used to deliver fee-based services. Email CAL if you have questions about the use of CAL materials.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email us at solutions@cal.org or call 202-362-0700, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.