Shared Leadership

Implementation of an integrated multi-tiered system of supports should incorporate strong, ongoing, and collaborative leadership concerning the system’s infrastructure, professional development, and processes for monitoring for effective instruction.

Essential Features

Collaborative leadership at all levels creates an environment that encourages ongoing communication and teaming. It proactively supports an integrated multi-tiered system of supports and remains focused on maximizing student outcomes.

At all levels, collaborative leadership prioritizes both academic and non-academic instruction and supports for all students when developing, implementing, and refining the infrastructure for an integrated multi-tiered system of supports, including:

  • Creating integrated teaming structures that meet regularly to make decisions about students and systems (including at district/school, building, and building staff levels)
  • Conducting effective, efficient meetings with clear objectives that identify needs based on both academic and non-academic data, establish goals, and evaluate progress toward goals
  • Creating schedules (including at building, grade, and classroom levels) that clearly prioritize the components of an integrated multi-tiered system of supports.
  • Organizing and supporting assessment activities for academic and non-academic areas, specifically through the development of a comprehensive assessment plan
  • Developing or providing an integrated data system that allows users to document and access student-level academic and non-academic data — represented visually or graphically — and supports teams in using and analyzing data together (such as analyzing literacy outcomes alongside attendance) to inform decision-making
  • Organizing and supporting the implementation of high-quality instructional materials, evidence-based programs/practices, and research-based practices in academic and non-academic areas
  • Systematically documenting and evaluating the extent to which high-quality instructional materials, evidence-based programs/practices, and research-based practices are delivered with integrity in academic and non-academic areas
  • Aiding in the development of a K–12 continuum of supports in academic and non-academic areas
  • Organizing and supporting staff development opportunities regarding family/caregiver engagement in academic and non-academic areas

Collaborative leadership at all levels provides for ongoing and focused professional learning that is structured for all staff to examine, reflect on, and refine core instructional practices, data-based decision-making, and the delivery of intervention and supports within an integrated multi-tiered system of supports. 

At the district and building levels, collaborative leadership reviews and aligns district initiatives through an integrated multi-tiered system of supports framework implementation, conducts a needs assessment, and uses the results to inform the development of the One Plan. 

Conditions for Success

See “Conditions for Success: Shared Leadership” on the Universal Screening, Data-Based Decision Making, Continuum of Supports, Progress Monitoring, and Team-Based Decision Making pages.   

Resources

Last Modified: 8/22/2025 1:44:51 PM