Moving to a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) requires deliberate implementation in order for it to work. After all, if the teachers in a school don’t monitor the same data or follow the same processes for intervention, then the inconsistency could sink the initiative.

And while ongoing training is essential for all staff, district leaders during the edLeader Panel “How to Build an MTSS Handbook for Your School or District” advocated for a well-thought-out MTSS handbook. With the right structure and maintenance, the handbook can lead to sustainability and success.

“Wait... what’s CCMR?”

That was the question I should have asked on day one as a brand-new Assistant Principal in Dallas, TX. But as a Chicago transplant eager to prove myself, I faked it, for three awkward days. When I finally asked my principal what CCMR meant, his answer, College, Career, and Military Ready, came with a side of skepticism, as if to say, How did we hire someone who doesn't know this? But once I realized CCMR was just Texas’s spin on CCR, a concept I was familiar with, I was ready to hit the ground running. I didn’t need to know every acronym to make an impact. I brought something powerful to the table: expertise in MTSS. 

Because no matter what we call it, CCR or CCMR, the mission remains the same: to ensure every student is prepared for life beyond high school. And MTSS? That’s the roadmap that gets us there.

Big news: Branching Minds has been named one of Tech & Learning’s Most Influential Edtech Products of 2025.

I vividly remember standing in front of a 12-year-old who refused to sit in his assigned seat or start the daily assignment. The tension in the room was high, and I was already at my wits’ end after a tough day. His defiance felt like the final straw. Overwhelmed, I called the front office for an administrator. It took 15 minutes out of my 45-minute class, while the rest of the students watched instead of focusing on their work.

The culture of a school isn’t just set by policies, staff, or curriculum. At its core, it’s built through the daily interactions and experiences shared by those who spend the most time there: the students. When students are given the opportunity to take an active role in shaping their environment, the results can be far-reaching.

When I first heard the term “implementation science,” I’ll admit—it sounded like something out of a research lab, not something I’d need to think about as a school leader juggling 100 other priorities. But as I dug in, I realized it’s really just a fancy way of talking about how we actually get things done—how we turn good ideas like MTSS into everyday practice that sticks.

During the edLeader Panel webinar, Roll Call! Addressing the Roots of Absenteeism with MTSS, leaders discussed how improving attendance and engagement can be done by focusing on the youngest learners—kindergarten through second grade—and provided practical, proven strategies for supporting early learners’ attendance habits.

Lakota Local School District in Southwest Ohio has about 17,700 students and more than 2,000 employees and reports an overall attendance rate of 94 percent. It’s a highly diverse district with 29 percent of the students being economically disadvantaged, about one-fourth being gifted, and 11 percent being English language learners.

When I was a teacher, my administrative team was highly focused on the “numbers,” and their dismissal of my observations sometimes left me feeling undervalued. They didn’t recognize that my daily interactions and deep understanding of my students provided valuable context for data-driven decisions.

I’ll never forget the day my principal walked into my classroom—not for an observation, not for a meeting, but because he actually cared enough to check in. He noticed a tense exchange between me and a colleague and wanted to know how I was handling the whirlwind of changes that year. But here’s the part that stuck with me: he didn’t just listen—he took action. Because of that conversation, our team meetings became more purposeful, our collaboration more effective, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly seen as an educator.

Effective leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about building trust and collaboration. One of the most powerful ways to do that? Truly listening to teachers. Teacher feedback is essential, especially when shaping a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). As middle school principal Melissa Harvey shared on the Schoolin’ Around Podcast, “They love that I listen to them, that I hear them. And it takes a lot because it’s a whole day or two of active listening.” But that effort pays off—when leaders prioritize teacher voices, they foster buy-in, strengthen systems, and create meaningful change.

Your district needs a strong Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), but the question is, how will you pay for it?

Finding the funding for MTSS software, resources, staffing, and professional development isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes, your usual federal formula funds aren’t enough, and you need to pursue competitive grants.

Here’s the good news: no matter who the funder is—whether it's the federal government, a state agency, or a private foundation—the grant process follows a similar path. With the right steps, you can quickly determine if a funding opportunity is a good fit and move through the application process more efficiently.

Here are ten steps for pursuing MTSS funding beyond your federal formula funds to get the MTSS program your district deserves.