Parents often hear schools say, “We need to try more interventions before we can evaluate.” But here’s the truth: that’s not what the law says.
Under IDEA’s Child Find obligation, schools must evaluate a student if they suspect a disability—period. MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) can run alongside, but it can never be used as a gatekeeping mechanism. Unfortunately, the way MTSS is often implemented leaves kids stuck in limbo instead of getting the help they need.
Four Common Problems with MTSS
Delay disguised as support.
MTSS was never meant to stall an evaluation. If a child is suspected of having a disability, schools are legally required to evaluate.Broken implementation.
Too often, interventions aren’t diagnostic or targeted. Kids with phonological awareness deficits get comprehension-heavy programs. That's time wasted and progress lost.Meaningless data.
Schools may collect piles of MTSS charts, but if the intervention doesn’t target the right skill, that “data” doesn’t reflect real growth. It becomes a smokescreen instead of a solution.The clock is ticking.
Evaluations already take 60–90 days, and every month of delay costs precious time. The earlier the intervention, the more effective it is. Waiting until 3rd or 4th grade makes remediation exponentially harder.
The Bottom Line for Families and Districts
Child Find is not optional.
MTSS cannot delay an evaluation.
Interventions must be evidence-based and skill-specific.
Progress monitoring only matters if it tracks the child’s actual area of weakness.
When MTSS is done right, in parallel with evaluation, it can be a powerful support system. But when it’s used as a barrier? It’s not just harmful—it’s a violation of federal law.
Parents: you don’t have to wait. Your child’s right to evaluation doesn’t depend on “finishing” MTSS.