<b>Closing the Gap from Policy to Practice: Why Leadership Capacity Is the Missing Link in MTSS Implementation</b>

This white paper, <i>Closing the Gap Between Policy and Practice: Why Leadership Capacity Is the Missing Link in MTSS Implementation</i>, highlights the urgent need for school and district leaders to take responsibility for building and sustaining Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Drawing on research in implementation science and equity, it argues that teacher “buy-in” alone cannot drive systemic change. Instead, principals and district leaders must lead system design, coherence, and fidelity, while teachers focus on instructional practice. The paper outlines key challenges, provides practical recommendations, and offers resources to strengthen leadership capacity so MTSS can move from compliance to transformation in America’s schools.