MTSS for Reading Improvement: A Leader’s Tool Kit for Schoolwide Success

by Sarah Brown, Stephanie Stollar

Transform your school’s reading outcomes through systematic implementation of the science of reading within a multitiered system of supports framework. This comprehensive guide provides over 50 practical tools that help leaders engineer robust support systems across all tiers. Move beyond individual interventions to create lasting, system-level improvements. This book is perfect for school leaders ready to bridge research and practice to achieve reading success for all students.




K–12 school leaders and administrators can use this book

Engineer sustainable, systemwide reading improvement through MTSS
Implement the science of reading at every tier of instruction
Build effective team structures that drive lasting change
Transform assessment data into actionable improvement plans
Create cohesive support systems that benefit all readers



Making Reading Improvement Stick

Part 1: Understanding Reading Science

Chapter 1: Foundations of Learning to Read

Chapter 2: Delivering Effective Reading Instruction

Chapter 3: Navigating Reading Assessment

Part 2: Engineering a Robust System of Support

Chapter 4: Foundations of MTSS

Chapter 5: Teaming and Collaboration to Support Reading Improvement

Part 3: Enabling Educators to Improve Reading Outcomes

Chapter 6: Using Data to Drive Tier 1 Reading Instruction for All Students

Chapter 7: Using Data to Drive Tier 2 and Tier 3 Reading Instruction for Some Students

Chapter 8: Improving and Intensifying the Three-Tiered Model for Reading Results

Epilogue

Appendix

References

Index

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Teaching

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

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Reviews

[Heidi]

Wow, what a great resource that does a really great job of outlining what the MTSS process should look like for schoolwide success and providing the resources necessary.

[Megan]

A phenomenal read that I recommend to anyone in the education field! Love that they give you all the resources that they reference throughout! No need to create your own- you can just copy from what is in the back. So helpful!

I read this book as part of a summer book study with The Reading League. The book was great by itself but the accompanying webinars with the authors were insightful as well! My favorite quote from Stephanie Stollar is, “we know too much to be failing so many”. Very powerful to reflect on as summer comes to a close and we head into another school year!

[Matt]

The downloadable tools to support data analysis and collaboration are excellent. What I wanted more of were actual examples of how these tools were used in action. They had short vignettes, but they felt more like an aside than actual case studies where I could see teams in action. I was also disappointed by the limited scope of the reading research, for example, its exclusive focus on the Big 5 for reading improvement. As a systems/MTSS coach working directly in schools, I can attest that skills and strategies are not the only factors contributing to why kids struggle to read.

[Alison Rini]

This book is a great resource. I started it last summer but didn’t have enough background knowledge to totally grasp the significance of its recommendations. This year I got intensive leadership and coaching training from an amazing organization (AIM Institute) and as I finished this book at the end of the school year I saw how truly useful it is as a guide. I highly recommend it, especially for moderately advanced practitioners who are looking to improve past their current plateau.

[Tricia]

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone engaged in literacy improvement and MTSS. It presents information in a very clear, straightforward way. The templates and resources included are so helpful; hey take the concepts of the book and put them into clear, actionable steps and formats to facilitate collaboration.

[Jean Schram]

THE Handbook for MTSS. I heard the author speak a few days ago, and she signed my book. Honestly, I had always thought that MTSS and RTI were pretty much the same, but Dr. Stollar explained that if you get your SYSTEMS (MTSS—Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) in place, you will have to do less INDIVIDUAL BY INDIVIDUAL (RTI-Response to Intervention) meetings.

[Linda Rhyne]

This book needs to be on EVERY leader’s shelf. It’s a book written with clarity and compassion for the complexity of school systems. The reproducible section is invaluable for taking action and implementing this learning!

Want to improve reading outcomes? Start with this text.

[Anna]

The Collaborative Improvement Cycle really does work when all 3 tiers of instruction are aligned with the science of learning.

Very interesting book study this summer, especially with the authors presenting and answering questions

[Amber Wilson]

While I very much appreciate the meeting structures that were laid out and all of the useful forms provided in the appendices, I am always looking for professional books that provide more actionable steps and ideas to implement.

[Michelle Nero]

Such an essential guide to get all teams on board with understanding the framework of MTSS so that all students learn how to read!

[Ro]

This should be a required book for all school administrators and educational leaders. A valuable resource.

[Kelsey Walker]

An absolute must-read to add to your arsenal if you are a school district literacy leader.

[Gaye]

Good outline and forms providing an approach to putting systems in place that work on teaching all students to read

[Holly (bibliophiles_bookstagram)]

Every educator that teaches literacy should start this one. So good!