The Multi-Tiered System of
Supports (MTSS) Buyer’s Guide

Selecting an MTSS Software Platform To Empower Teachers

Student needs for academic, social, emotional, and behavioral intervention are acute and growing, and so is the frustration that comes with an exponential increase in teacher requirements for finding and providing interventions, time-consuming meetings, cumbersome documentation, and accountability with little support. The conversation has moved from making the job of the teacher easier to making it even possible. Is it any wonder that many teachers are fleeing the profession that they once loved? We want each student to thrive — and we also want teachers to thrive, to have the tools they need to reach struggling students without sacrificing their own well-being. We have to do better in supporting students and teachers.

As a district administrator, it was my job to curate resources and develop systems that smoothed the path for teachers. In conversations about MTSS in the district I served, we realized that an online platform that supported the entire intervention process would make all the difference for our teachers. Not just a compliance and reporting tool, not a document and data warehouse, but an actual live, interactive MTSS software platform that would reveal student learning needs, streamline communication and collaboration, point to the right interventions, make documentation simpler, and increase clarity and accountability in actionable ways.

I learned some things about the MTSS platform selection process along the way — my hope is that this Buyer’s Guide will smooth your path as you lead your district in selecting a software system that empowers your teachers to support all students and make the promise of MTSS a reality.

- Trudy Bender, MTSS Content Manager, Branching Minds

2. Building an MTSS Platform Task Force

The selection of an MTSS software platform intersects with almost every aspect of district work, from finance, to technology, to curriculum and instruction, to behavior support, to professional development, to teacher retention, and more. Although you may not have each department or role physically represented on your task force, the concerns of each area must be addressed, and you need people with the authority and influence to make and implement the selection decision.

The following is a list of departments and roles to consider for your task force. When inviting participation, highlight the importance and long-lasting impact of this decision for teachers and students. Remember that even if you do not have a direct representative, it is imperative to elicit feedback from each role, especially teachers.

• District Representative(s): MTSS and/or Curriculum & Instruction 

• Campus Representative(s): MTSS and/or Curriculum & Instruction 

• Principal/Assistant Principal(s) 

• Elementary/Secondary Teacher(s)

• Cabinet Member such as Superintendent/Asst. Superintendent

• Special Programs (SPED, ELL, Gifted, etc.)

• Behavior and SEL

• Technology

• Funding

• Testing/Data Reporting/Accountability

• Professional Development

• Other: 

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3. Examining Your Needs 

MTSS is big. It encompasses, connects, and drives the work that schools are doing to support all students. Your task force needs an understanding of the MTSS framework in order to make a good decision, so take the time to provide an overview of MTSS along with the current needs and challenges faced by your district. Do not assume that participants already understand MTSS. This can be one of the most powerful steps in ensuring the success of your MTSS task force. In my own experience with our MTSS task force, we had a breakthrough when our funding and technology representatives understood the scope and importance of this work. They became MTSS champions and prioritized launching and sustaining the new system. 

Examine your unique needs and challenges in MTSS implementation: 

• State requirements

• Alignment with district improvement plan/strategic goals

• Technology requirements

• Current level of MTSS infrastructure and practice

• User-specific needs:

  • Teachers

  • Interventionists

  • District Administrators

  • Campus Administrators

  • Special Programs

  • Other:

  District-specific challenges:

  • Student mobility

  • Teacher turn-over

  • Staffing and scheduling

  • Disproportionality

  • Communication/collaboration

  • Technology resources

  • Data management

  • Other:

4. Comparing MTSS Platform Features

The MTSS and RTI software space has grown significantly over the past decade as districts seek to deepen their MTSS practice and need solutions to save their educators time and effort in this important work. You will find several platforms to choose from, with a wide variety of features. The following questions can help your task force discern whether a particular platform’s set of features supports MTSS best practices and creates a workflow and a user experience that fits your context: 

Is the software built to make MTSS as practical and efficient as possible for busy teachers? Avoid systems with MTSS features added on to a platform created for a different purpose. A positive user experience for teachers occurs by design when a platform is built from the ground up to support MTSS implementation in the classroom. 

Does the software bring data together in a way that promotes understanding and action? It is easy to become data-rich but information-poor. Data from student information systems, universal screeners, benchmarks, and progress-monitoring assessments should be seamlessly ingested and translated into actionable insights. Good MTSS software supports the data-driven decision-making process by helping users see and understand which students are struggling and why, as well as the best intervention options.  

Does the software increase collaboration and transparency between systems and stakeholders? From general education to special education to gifted to ELL; from academics to behavior to wellness; from class to class, grade to grade, school to school, and district-wide — stakeholders should be able to easily document and access assessments, intervention plans, progress monitoring, student support meetings, and family communication so that everyone in the ecosystem has insight into how best to support their students. 

Will the software company act as a partner in MTSS implementation? When considering customer service, data ingestion, and professional development options, look for companies with accessible user support and a solid sequence of training and coaching in using the software platform and in MTSS best practices. 

MTSS Platform Features

Customer Support

5. Considering Funding Sources and Costs 

Without a sustainable source of funding and a long-term plan for MTSS implementation, the work done by your task force to select a great MTSS platform can unravel in a short time due to administrative turn-over, shifting budget priorities, the latest emergency, or even the latest educational “shiny object” that promises fast and easy results. Recognize that many funding sources are available for school districts to implement specific components of MTSS—either across the school/district or for targeted populations of students, so you may need to draw from several sources.   

A long-term mindset will also help your team estimate costs more accurately. There is far more to consider than simply the initial set-up fee and price-per-student. Ongoing professional development and customer service are essential to MTSS implementation, and costs can vary widely for the support needed as state requirements change, technology is updated, and your district faces unique challenges unforeseen at the time of purchase. 

A final note about costs…although easy to overlook, consider the cost of not implementing an MTSS platform that supports teachers in their intervention work. Effective MTSS practice helps address issues that directly impact the bottom line. 

A teacher-friendly MTSS platform: 

• Provides the infrastructure necessary for collaboration and increased collective efficacy among teachers, critical to teacher satisfaction and retention. By retaining effective teachers, districts save thousands of dollars every year — up to $21,000 per teacher in some areas (Learning Policy Institute, 2017).

• Helps with early identification and intervention in academic/behavioral needs, preventing unnecessary and costly special education referrals. When a disability is suspected, a robust history of MTSS intervention data strengthens and streamlines the special education evaluation process. 

• Enables intervention for students struggling with behavior, social or emotional needs, and/or chronic absenteeism, reducing loss of funding due to out-of-school suspensions and low daily attendance.

Funding Options:

• State and Federal Funding

• Coordinated Early Intervening Services

• Grants 

Compare Costs:

• Price per student

• Setup fees

• Professional Development

• Customer Support

• Additional costs:

6. Vetting Your Options

Everything looks good on paper (and on-screen), but you need information about whether an MTSS platform can actually deliver on its many promises. Product certifications from neutral third-party evaluating organizations provide quality assurance and a framework of measurement when reviewing products in the education technology industry. Data security is a particularly important concern. 

Verify that the product your task force is considering is certified in the following areas. In addition, check with other districts for information about their experience with the software platform and customer support:

• Data Interoperability and Security

• Certifications and Awards

• Research-Based Design

• Recommendations from other districts

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7. Making Your Choice

You may have a formal RFP process to follow, or you may have more latitude in how you make your selection. Many districts have a rubric for scoring different options. Depending on the cost of the platform, the funding source(s), and your district’s guidelines, you may need approval from your superintendent, district cabinet, and school board. Whatever your context, a thoughtful, clear presentation of your selection will increase buy-in from your stakeholders.

8. Conclusion

Congratulations on selecting an MTSS platform that will empower your teachers to meet the needs of students with learning challenges! Implementing the right MTSS software platform can be a transformative step in your district’s journey toward equity in supporting students and providing real relief for overwhelmed teachers — it certainly was for mine. Whatever system you choose, we at Branching Minds are here to provide practical, research-based MTSS resources to support you along the way. Our mission is to create a path to academic and personal success for every learner. We take that mission seriously, and hope to partner with you in this work.

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