Development and Initial Validation of Scores on the School Counselor/MTSS Alignment Scale

Abstract

Multi-tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) is a framework for organizing and providing school-based support in various areas such as academics, behavior, social and emotional development, and mental health. A foundational aspect of MTSS is evaluation, including the fidelity of alignment. For over a decade, scholars have proposed frameworks for school counselor (SC)/MTSS alignment. However, the extant literature is missing an assessment with valid scores for measuring SC/MTSS alignment. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to develop and validate scores on the School Counselor/MTSS Alignment Scale (SC/MTSS-AS), a newly developed assessment for measuring SC/MTSS alignment among three independent U.S., national samples of SCs. The three following aims of this study included: (a) testing the dimensionality of scores on the SC/MTSS-AS, (b) confirming the emergent factor structure with a second independent sample of SCs, and (c) testing the convergent validity of scores on the SC/MTSS-AS. Results of internal structure validity testing revealed and confirmed a five-dimensional MTSS alignment model, including a higher-order latent factor of total MTSS alignment. Convergent validity testing also supported the psychometric properties of the SC/MTSS-AS.