Multiple Funding Paths. One MTSS Partner for PA.
Branching Minds helps Pennsylvania districts
fund MTSS and school safety infrastructure
through PDE's I-MTSS model that pre-funds Branching Minds, the PA School Safety & Mental Health Grant (PCCD), and Title I/II/IV, IDEA/CEIS.
Supporting the Priorities Shaping Pennsylvania Schools
Pennsylvania districts are strengthening MTSS implementation, closing behavioral health and school safety gaps, and meeting new state requirements, all while navigating tight budgets. Branching Minds brings these priorities together in one connected platform.
Branching Minds helps Pennsylvania districts:
- Meet Level 1 Baseline Criteria, including MTSS frameworks, SAP referral processes, and threat assessment teams
- Support behavioral threat assessment (Article XIII-E) with documented, standardized workflows
- Connect academic, behavior, attendance, and student support data in one system
How MTSS Supports PCCD Grant Eligibility
Branching Minds helps districts meet Level 1 Baseline Criteria and Canopy Case Management puts PA School Safety & Mental Health Grant funding to work, standardizing threat assessment workflows, documenting SAP referrals, and connecting safety data to your existing MTSS system.
Evidence-Based Assessment Workflows
Guide multidisciplinary threat assessment teams through a consistent protocol aligned with Article XIII-E.
Secure Case Documentation
Document assessments, response plans, and follow-up activities in one centralized system.
Response Plan Tracking
Assign next steps and keep teams aligned throughout the process.
Integrate Threat Assessment & MTSS
Connect safety insights to holistic student data, not just the incident in front of you.
Access Multi-Year MTSS Funding, No Grant Writing Required
Pennsylvania educators and administrators are committed to building a system where every student gets what they need to succeed. Now, you don't have to do it alone.
Branching Minds is aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) I-MTSS model and supported by PaTTAN, pre-funded and ready to help your district streamline MTSS implementation and secure sustainable support year after year.
Pre-Funded by the PA Department of Education
No grant writing, no scrambling, Branching Minds is already approved and funded to support PA districts.
Behavioral Health & School Safety Grant-Ready
Meets Level 1 Baseline Criteria for the PA School Safety & Mental Health Grant (PCCD), applications due October 16, 2026.
Aligned with State Guidance
Built to support the PA I-MTSS model and PaTTAN's professional development.
All-in-one MTSS Software
From research-based interventions to centralized data, your MTSS needs are covered.
Proudly Partnering with Districts Across Pennsylvania
Supporting Pennsylvania Districts in MTSS Success
Branching Minds isn’t new to MTSS or to Pennsylvania.
We’re a team of educators, learning scientists, and technologists who’ve helped hundreds of districts make MTSS actually work. Our unified platform connects academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports, turning complex data into clear, research-grounded decisions.
Identify Who Needs Support and Why
- Proactively identify which students need support by automatically applying cut points to assessment data.
- Examine why students may struggle using reading and math Insight Surveys.
- Understand where and for whom the core needs strengthening, with access to targeted instructional resources
Educator Voices from PA and Beyond
"Branching Minds provides the best support team for any platform I have experienced in my 25 years in education. They are responsive to each question and work diligently to get an answer to each concern and/or issue that arises."
Daniel (Duffy) Besch
Director, Bellefonte Area School District, PA
"I've been doing this work for 36 years, and I've never come across a tool that encompasses so many things districts truly need and that my staff actually use daily."
Dr. William Crankshaw
Superintendent, Greater Johnstown School District, NY
"The streamlined workflows, intuitive menus, and ability to select interventions and assign tasks simplifies the creation of support plans, ensuring educators can efficiently tailor strategies."
Dr. Laura Blessing
Superintendent, Miamisburg City Schools, OH
"We tier all of our students in Branching Minds using SELweb data - it's a game changer! The process for progress monitoring and communicating is very clear and systematic. And we're all speaking the same language."
Jennifer Maichin
Former High School Assistant Principal, Mineola UFSD, NY
"Branching Minds has been instrumental to our success because it forces us to examine our practices at every level, deep dive into what's working, what's not working, and what pieces are missing."
Jenna Blank
RTI Coordinator, Livonia Central School District, NY
Proudly Certified
Pennsylvania MTSS & School Safety Grant FAQs
Yes. Branching Minds (MTSS platform) and Canopy (threat assessment & case management) fall under the grant's Behavioral Health & School Climate track, helping districts meet Level 1 Baseline Criteria and fund eligible Section 1306-B(j) activities.
October 16, 2026, with a 24-month project period running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. See the official funding announcement for full details.
$138.8M statewide. School districts receive a $100,000 base plus an enrollment-based add-on; IUs, CTCs, and charter/cyber charter schools receive a flat $70,000. See the official FY26-27 funding announcement for full eligibility and allowable-use details.
Districts must meet Level 1 Baseline Criteria, including a written MTSS framework, SAP referral process, and threat assessment team, before spending on other eligible activities, unless a documented gap exists. Branching Minds and Canopy are built specifically to help close that gap.
Yes. Most districts fund MTSS infrastructure by blending multiple streams, including PDE I-MTSS alignment, this grant, Title I/II/IV, and IDEA/CEIS, rather than relying on a single source.
No. It's noncompetitive and formula-based, meaning every eligible public school, IU, and charter/cyber charter entity in Pennsylvania is funded. There's no scoring process; the main task is submitting a well-justified budget. Ready to apply? Submit your application through PCCD's Egrants system by October 16, 2026.
MTSS Resources for Pennsylvania School & District Leaders
Toolkit
Threat Assessment and Suicide Risk Screening
See how a standardized system for behavioral threat assessment and suicide risk screening can help your district protect and support st...
Download toolkit
