Date of Award

5-7-2026

Access Restriction

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate in Education

Department

Education

School or College

School of Education

First Advisor

Fernando Estrada

Second Advisor

Brandi Hinnant-Crawford

Third Advisor

Dolores Delgado Bernal

Abstract

Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is an integrated K-12 educational framework that addresses the needs of all students in a systematic way by focusing on prevention and the implementation of evidence-based practices (California Department of Education, 2023). The “Guide to Implementing California’s Multi-Tiered System of Support” (Orange County Department of Education, 2023) promotes the maxim “All Means All” which paints a picture of schooling where all students are receiving the supports they need to learn and succeed. However, critical MTSS researchers have argued that MTSS failed to address the needs of all students, especially students of color, because it did not confront the root causes of systemic racism and oppression (Betters-Bubon et al., 2022; Edirmanasinghe et al., 2022; Fallon et al., 2023). The purpose of this critical case study (Esposito & Evans-Winters, 2022) was to explore and understand how a TK-12 public school with an explicit social justice focus designs, implements, and improves their MTSS to address the needs of students from marginalized racial backgrounds. The study was guided by two omnibus research questions along with several sub-questions. The two omnibus research questions were: 1) How is MTSS implemented at a school committed to advancing social justice for students from racially and ethnically marginalized backgrounds? 2) What are the experiences of students as participants in the school’s MTSS? The study took a critical analysis approach drawing from critical race theory (Crenshaw et al., 1995) and ImproveCrit (Hinnant-Crawford et al., 2023) to merge institutional systems analysis with humanizing stories of staff actively engaged in implementing MTSS (California Department of Education, 2023) and of the students receiving supports.

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