Optimising Time for Schoolwide Improvement: Developing a Time-Use Study Process for MTSS Leadership Teams

Abstract School reformers have inundated staff with numerous improvement efforts in recent years. These efforts include multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) that involve early, preventative interventions. Educators, already burdened with heavy workloads, may feel frustrated by the lack of time to implement MTSS approaches. Researchers suggest that time-use studies could help educators better understand and optimise their use of temporal resources. However, no time-study research has specifically addressed school MTSS leadership teams. This research involved developing a time-use study process to support leadership teams in gathering and reflecting on time-use data to improve MTSS implementation. Researchers gathered educators’ recommendations from four participants using focus group methodology for time-use study codes, data collection, and reporting protocols. Participants emphasised the need for a clear purpose, efficient data collection, and staff motivation to ensure meaningful participation. Implementing time-use studies following these recommendations may help MTSS team members to improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and sense of wellbeing.