News

WENATCHEE, WA. – The North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) hosted over 900 educators and partners from across the state during the annual MTSS Integrated Conference that took place July 28-July 30 at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

Hosted in partnership with the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the conference brought together leaders, teachers, specialists, and support teams for two powerful days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. The event kicked off on July 28, 2026 with a Pre-Conference that featured role-specific learning for Special Education Directors, School Psychologists, and Threat Assessment teams. The conference was filled with keynote presentations and breakout sessions designed to elevate MTSS Implementation across Washington state.

“Participants had access to more than 90 breakout sessions led by educators, practitioners, and experts from across Washington,” said Darcy Johnson, Executive Director of Student Success at NCESD. “The energy, collaboration, and commitment we saw at this year’s MTSS Integrated Conference gives me great hope for what’s happening in Washington’s schools.”

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a framework for enhancing the adoption and implementation of a continuum of evidence-based practices to achieve important outcomes for every student. When MTSS is implemented with fidelity, this prevention-based framework ensures that schools create the necessary conditions to systematically integrate academic and nonacademic supports to meet the needs of the whole child. This integration involves coordination of tiered delivery systems, including Academic Response to Intervention (RTI) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Pyramid Model, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).

Washington State has 5 core components within the MTSS framework: Team Driven Shared Leadership, Data Based Decision Making, Family, Student, and Community Engagement, Continuum of Supports, and Evidence-Based Practices. The MTSS framework builds on a public health approach that is preventative and focuses on organizing the efforts of adults within systems to be more efficient and effective. MTSS helps to ensure students benefit from nurturing environments and equitable access to universal instruction and supports that are culturally and linguistically responsive, universally designed, and differentiated to meet their unique needs.

“The turnout at this year’s conference reflects the growing commitment across Washington to ensure every student has access to the support they need to succeed,” said Johnson. “We hope to have the same great turnout and learning sessions for 2027.”

The 2027 MTSS Integrated Conference is scheduled for July 27-29, 2027 at the Wenatchee Convention Center. To learn more about the conference, visit www.ncesd.org.

About North Central Educational Service District

As one of Washington’s nine Educational Service Districts, North Central ESD provides leadership and quality services to support school districts, educational staff, and partners serving the children and communities in the North Central Washington region and across the state.

Driven by the needs of the school districts we serve, North Central ESD offers more than 140 programs and services that address all areas of K-12 education and administration. This support creates a wrap-around of services that allow districts to prioritize resources to strengthen the work they are already doing in their schools and classrooms.

Learn more at www.ncesd.org or follow us on social media.

About Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

The goal of Washington’s K–12 education system is to prepare every student for postsecondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement. Led by Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K–12 education in Washington state. Working with the state’s 295 public school districts and 8 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education. OSPI is housed in the Old Capitol Building in Olympia.

Learn more at ospi.k12.wa.us/.