Quick look: OCDE and the Butte County Office of Education are partnering through California’s Multi-Tiered System of Support framework to help Los Angeles County schools recover from the Eaton and Palisades fires.
When the Eaton and Palisades fires tore through Los Angeles County in January, they destroyed campuses, displaced students and upended entire communities.
Now, with support from a state team that’s tasked with leading the California Multi-Tiered System of Support, schools impacted by the fires are getting help to rebuild stronger and focus on the well-being of students and staff.
As we’ve shared here before, the California Multi-Tiered System of Support — often shortened to CA MTSS — is a statewide framework that helps schools organize resources to support the academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs of all students. Rather than adding new programs, it weaves together existing efforts to create a cohesive system designed to support every learner, every day.
Led by the Orange County Department of Education in partnership with the Butte County Office of Education, the new wildfire recovery initiative is using remaining state CA MTSS funds to assist Los Angeles County schools most affected by last January’s fires.
At the request of the California Department of Finance, the program aims to help districts and charter organizations address recovery needs for both students and staff.
“This effort reflects what CA MTSS was designed to do — respond to the needs of every learner, every educator and every community,” said Dr. Jami Parsons, executive director Systemic Leadership and Continuous Improvement for OCDE. “By aligning trauma-informed practices, professional learning and targeted supports, we’re helping schools rebuild not just infrastructure, but well-being and connection.”
Applying lessons learned
Since 2016, the Orange County and Butte County offices of education have co-led CA MTSS under the direction of the California Department of Education, working to expand the framework to schools across the state. Nearly a decade into that work, educators have reported measurable gains in academic achievement, reductions in suspensions and absenteeism, and stronger alignment among major state initiatives.
That same framework is now being applied to help campuses recover from the Eaton and Palisades fires through the CA MTSS Wildfire Response Support for Los Angeles Schools initiative. Participating sites will receive coaching, technical assistance and funding tailored to their needs, along with support for trauma-informed instruction, educator wellness and connections to community-based resources.
“These schools are facing the long-term effects of trauma and disruption,” said Rindy DeVoll, who directs the Rural CA MTSS program for the Butte County Office of Education. “Through this partnership, we’re applying lessons learned from our own recovery from the Camp Fire and other major wildfires. Our goal is to help schools build systems that sustain resilience over time.”
The collaboration brings together OCDE, Butte and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, along with the University of Kansas SWIFT Center. Participating schools include the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District and six public charter schools impacted by the fires: Aveson School of Leaders, Aveson Global Leadership Academy, Alma Fuerte Public School, Odyssey Charter School, OCS-South and Pasadena Rosebud Academy Charter School.
“LACOE is proud to partner in this important effort,” said Dr. Chanel Young-Smith, project director at LACOE’s Center for District Capacity Building. “By aligning resources through MTSS, we’re helping schools move from crisis response to sustainable systems of support that center the well-being of students, staff and communities.”
Santa Monica–Malibu
Among the first district participants is the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District, which is using its funding to expand the integration of social-emotional learning, positive behavioral supports and restorative practices within a cohesive MTSS framework. The district’s initiative, “Building a Stronger MTSS: Integration and Implementation of SEL & PBIS/RP,” promotes healing, belonging and academic success in schools deeply affected by wildfire-related trauma.
“The timing of this opportunity could not be better, as it aligns perfectly with our vision of promoting wellness through MTSS interventions,” said Dr. Frank Dussan, Santa Monica-Malibu’s director of student services.
Butte COE brings unique expertise to the project, having led recovery efforts after four major wildfires since 2018 — including the Camp, North Complex, Dixie and Park fires. That experience is informing a new Community of Practice launching this fall, where participating schools will engage in coaching, professional development and peer learning focused on trauma-informed MTSS implementation.
Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean said the partnership demonstrates how the CA MTSS framework can help schools respond to challenges with unity and purpose.
“Through the California MTSS framework, we’re helping school communities rebuild not just their campuses but their sense of connection and hope,” Dr. Bean said. “Collaboration among county offices and schools shows the power of shared learning to lift up every student, especially in times of recovery.”