Board approves three-year Branching Minds contract to centralize student data and interventions

The Portage Township Schools Board voted July 28 to approve a three-year contract with Branching Minds to integrate student academic, behavior and attendance data into a central platform and support multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) work.

District presenters described the platform as a way to collate disparate data sources (assessments, attendance, behavior) so educators can monitor interventions, set goals and progress-monitor students more quickly. The contract totals $46,450 in year one, $46,350 in year two and $46,350 in year three, the superintendent reported.

District staff said the tool will support a district-level MTSS team, building-level MTSS teams and a new behavior development team representing each building. Professional development will include on-site and prerecorded training, tiered coaching and archived resources for staff; staff described the training as a mix of on-site support and ongoing coaching.

Board members asked whether the professional development would be on-site; staff replied it will be a mixture of both on-site and prerecorded training with in-depth behavior training for MTSS teams. The board approved the contract by roll call.

Why it matters: consolidating data into a single system is intended to help staff identify at-risk students more quickly and deploy research-based interventions across academics, behavior and attendance.