The SAMI is a needs assessment tool that helps building leadership teams understand the status of MTSS implementation at the school level. The tool supports teams to engage in active discussions to identify strengths and challenges in current MTSS implementation.  It is designed to help the local system identify current practices, areas of strength, and areas for growth and refinement, and enable faculty and staff to prioritize and focus resources on those areas in need of the most attention or support. It is important to actively implement SAMI within the building leadership team in order to:

• Measure school-level implementation of MTSS;
• Identify and prioritize system needs;
• Guide action planning; and
  

Assess impact over time of action plan implementation across the system, as well as for groups of students and individual students.

ESSA requires states to support a school-level needs assessment within their accountability system.  To address this requirement, all schools identified in need of Comprehensive or Targeted Support and Improvement are required to use the SAMI during the first year of designation.   Results of the SAMI will provide designated schools with a Priority Conceptual Area(s).