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.

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.

During the edLeader Panel webinar, “The Role of MTSS in District Improvement: Aligning Vision and Action,” three top-notch current and former district leaders discussed change management, focusing on how a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) can provide an organizing framework for accomplishing strategic goals. The panelists shared practical strategies to help anyone from seasoned K-12 superintendents to up-and-coming administrators accomplish their district goals and lead confidently.

The insightful conversation felt like peek-a-boo access to a members-only VIP coaching session with recognized industry pundits, including one who achieved a 97 percent graduation rate. They encapsulated decades of experience in a CliffsNotes version of being an effective district leader, laying a blueprint for success. Consider the following five essential factors as must-dos for effectively leading through change—with MTSS implementation!

Watch the On-Demand Recording 

Success in school and in life is not about being the smartest in the room; it’s about how well you can manage yourself and navigate the challenges you face every day.  Executive functioning—the ability to manage tasks, time, and emotions—plays a crucial role in students’ growth and learning. But what is the best way to help students develop these skills? One key lies in enhancing our own executive functioning skills, creating an environment in which we intentionally practice and model these soft skills in our daily interactions with students and colleagues. 

It’s your job to pull all the pieces together—and WOW are there a lot of pieces! From curriculum planning and enrollment management, to staffing and addressing the diverse needs of students and teachers, to connecting with the community and advocating for your campus. Underneath it all is a well of data that can inform your next steps. Using data effectively is a crucial leadership skill.  Academic assessments, intervention monitoring, attendance and behavioral data help you make informed decisions that drive school improvement and boost student success …. IF you know what to look at, how, and when. 

Curriculum changes, unfamiliar technology platforms, shiny new devices, ambitious district initiatives—sound familiar to you? Starting a new school year often feels like trying to juggle while riding a roller coaster! 

You watch your educators hustling at the end of the school day to create sub plans and make copies for tomorrow. You have asked your teachers to leave their classrooms in the hands of an unknown substitute to attend professional development for a new district initiative. Fast forward a few years or even months and you can’t remember what the initiative was, what the expectations were for you as an administrator or your educators, or even how to get ahold of the resources shared. Have you been there? This experience occurs far too often in education as we continue to search for the silver bullet, the initiative to end all initiatives. 

So much time, money, physical, and emotional investment can be saved by planning for sustainability with your professional development implementation. Fortunately, MTSS itself holds the key — it’s a framework to support all learners. What if we applied that way of thinking to our adult learners as well? 

Just as a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) systematically provides universal, targeted and intensive instruction for students depending on their needs, providing systematic MTSS learning for educators depending on their needs will have an exponential impact on your MTSS efforts over time.

"I believe that being an effective, inspiring leader for my teachers means staying in touch with what it's like for them to work in our building – and striving to make our school a place they'll never want to leave." 

- Melissa Harvey, Principal, Bobby Summers Middle School, Royse City I.S.D., TX 

Just about every department and role in a school district benefits from the Branching Minds platform! Branching Minds is a comprehensive MTSS solution designed to transform the way school districts support students, making the work of education both practical and sustainable.