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    Julie Miller-Johnson

    10 Steps to Finding a Competitive Grant to Fund Your MTSS

    Leadership in MTSS, Federal MTSS Funding

    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.

     

    Finding a Competitive Grant to Fund Your MTSS Highlights
    • Competitive Grants Can Fund MTSS – Federal, state, and private grants can supplement formula funds, but districts must assess eligibility and alignment.
    • Top Grant Assessment Questions: Is it enough, is it too much, is it worth the work.
    • Post-Award Management Matters – Grants come with reporting and administrative obligations that districts must be ready to handle.

     

    The MTSS Request-for-Proposals Guide

    MTSS Practice, Federal MTSS Funding

    So you need to go to RFP?! You’re in the right place. While the process can be daunting and time-consuming, it’s also an incredible opportunity to connect with the educators who will use the software daily. Districts can build buy-in for MTSS and select a solution truly tailored to their specific needs.

    This RFP guide, written by an expert in education funding, walks you through the RFP process step-by-step. It is the perfect companion to the MTSS Buyer’s Guide, another resource to help you and your team evaluate solutions fairly and competitively. 

     

    Writing an MTSS RFP Highlights

    RFPs Drive MTSS Success. A well-crafted RFP helps districts choose tools that align with their needs while fostering collaboration and clarity.

    Steps for Effective RFPs. Define goals, set a clear schedule, and structure proposals for easy evaluation.

    Empowering Districts with the MTSS RFP Guide. Utilizing tools like the MTSS RFP Guide helps align stakeholders, map out actionable requirements, and secure the best solutions to support long-term student success.

    Table of Contents
    1. What is an RFP?
    2. Creating a Solicitation Schedule
    3. Proposal Format
    4. Recommended Vendor Requirements
    5. The MTSS RFP Guide from Branching Minds

    How Can My District Find MTSS Funding?

    Leadership in MTSS, Federal MTSS Funding

    As school districts across the country implement a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to address student needs, many administrators are trying to figure out where the money will come from.

    While some funds may be available to improve MTSS overall, many funding sources are available for school districts to implement specific components of MTSS—either across a district or for specific populations of students: 

    • MTSS is a long-term practice, so federal funding remains the most sustained source of funding for MTSS programs.
    • State formula funding varies and is subject to state education budgets.
    • State competitive grants are often funded annually but will require districts to file grant applications for each cycle.

    The takeaway? Districts may have to look to several funding sources and combine them to fund their MTSS.

    Federal Funding for MTSS

    MTSS Infrastructure, Leadership in MTSS

    Federal funding for your Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) can be complicated. Districts face limited resources and relatively inflexible traditional federal funding streams. But, it is worth revisiting available funding mechanisms and considering new funding approaches to implement MTSS and MTSS Software.