Strands of Service

MTPLC Strands of Service

MTPLC delivers statewide educator professional learning and direct school support through online courses, workshops, in-person training, special education and federal programs consulting, leadership and mentoring services, MANDT de-escalation training, and structured tiered behavior intervention supports led by trained specialists and Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).

Strand	What It Is	More Info	Additional Info
1) Online Courses (Self-Paced / Continuing Education)	Affordable, self-paced online courses for educators seeking continuing education credit and skill-building across key instructional and leadership areas. Provides the opportunity to earn OPI Professional Development Units or University of Montana undergraduate/graduate credits. These credits may be applied toward licensure renewal, and in many cases can support movement across district pay scale lanes.	Examples of course areas include: Indian Education for All (IEFA), Gifted & Talented, English Language Arts, Improving Instructional Practices, Educational Leadership, and more.	Delivery: Online, self-paced, and/or asynchronous.
2) Online Workshops (Virtual Professional Learning)	Live, interactive Zoom workshops and multi-session series providing practical tools educators can implement immediately.	Features: Interactive delivery methods, renewal units, and often limited-time recordings available.	Examples of workshop themes: teacher support, behavior/mental wellness, trauma response, UDL, explicit instruction, technology, wellness, and more.
3) In-Person Workshops & Conferences	Regional and statewide in-person training opportunities to strengthen educator practice, school climate, and readiness systems. Provides the opportunity to earn OPI Professional Development Units.	Includes: Conferences and in-person workshop offerings across instructional, student wellness, and systems supports.
4) MANDT Training (Crisis Prevention & De-Escalation)	Training through The Mandt System, a comprehensive approach to preventing, de-escalating, and (when necessary) intervening when behavior poses a risk of harm.	Options: ● Individual registration or school-hosted trainings ● Relational and Technical components (as scheduled)	Impact focus: Mandt training improves staff readiness, strengthens safety and prevention practices, and promotes a consistent, organization-wide approach to responding to challenging behavior. Mandt System certification may also support organizational risk reduction. Proper training and adherence to established, evidence-based protocols can serve as a key defense in litigation by demonstrating that actions taken were necessary, reasonable, proportionate, and aligned with industry standards and legal frameworks.
5) Special Education Services (SPED Consulting + Compliance + Systems Support)	MTPLC provides consulting and case-management services to help districts strengthen high-quality, legally compliant, evidence-based supports for students with disabilities—especially in rural communities with limited SPED staffing capacity.	Supports may include: case-management, consultation, planning, compliance guidance, team support, and strengthening SPED systems for student success.	Value
6) Federal Programs Support (Walking YZ Educational Consulting Services)	Federal education program support provided through Walking YZ Educational Consulting Services, led by a Federal Education Program Specialist with extensive experience supporting districts across Montana and beyond.	Focus areas may include: ● Federal program planning and implementation ● Program compliance and reporting ● District systems support and strategic guidance
7) Teacher Mentoring / Teacher Support	Professional learning, mentoring, and coaching designed to strengthen instructional practice, increase classroom success, and support long-term educator sustainability—especially in rural and high-need contexts.	Delivery: In-person and/or virtual multi-session support that may include: ● Initial needs assessment (teacher goals, classroom context, and priority skill areas) ● Aligned coaching and implementation support ● Ongoing check-ins and progress monitoring ● Optional workshops or targeted training sessions to reinforce practices and build capacity	Outcome focus: Improved instructional effectiveness, stronger student engagement, increased educator confidence, and improved teacher retention through practical skill-building and resilience supports.
8)Comprehensive School Support	Comprehensive leadership development and school support designed for district and school leaders navigating instructional leadership, staffing challenges, school climate, compliance demands, and continuous system improvement.	Aligned with: MTPLC’s Educational Leadership course offerings, professional learning supports, and integrated coaching/consultation services to strengthen leadership capacity and sustainable school systems.
9) Behavior Intervention & School Safety Support	Structured, tiered behavior consultation that strengthens schoolwide prevention systems, classroom management supports, and individualized student interventions. Outcome focus: improved staff competence, reduced crisis intensity, stronger MTSS/504/IEP alignment, and sustainable behavior systems.	Consultation Types (Tiered): ● Tier 1 – Team/Systems Support: schoolwide supports, data review, BST training, recurring problem-solving meetings, written recommendations report ● Tier 2 – Classroom Support: classroom strategies, barrier-solving, BST training, recurring meetings, written recommendations report ● Tier 3 – Individual Student Support: Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) development, targeted strategies, Behavioral Skills Training (BST), recurring meetings, written recommendations report	Consultation Phases (6–10 weeks): 1. Interview & File Review (IEP/504/FBA/BIP, stakeholder interviews, observation planning) 2. Direct Observation, Assessment & Consult Report (including FBA/BIP when indicated) 3. Behavior Skills Training & Problem Solving (weekly virtual + onsite training, BST model, monthly behavior team check-ins) 4. Fading Plan & Summative Report (maintenance plan, reduced trainings, sustainability supports)
10) Montana Cares + Stop School Violence Grant (SSV) Supports	MTPLC administers the Stop School Violence Grant (SSV) in partnership with the Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) and Lightpeed/STOPit Solutions.	● Montana Cares: A confidential reporting and support platform that helps schools respond early to safety and wellness concerns. ● Mental Health Resource Navigator (MHRN): Connects schools to mental health supports, resources, and referral pathways to strengthen access to care. ● E-Therapy: Provides secure virtual counseling options to increase student access to mental health services. ● Character Strong Curriculum: Provides Character Strong curriculum access and support to help schools implement consistent SEL and culture-building practices. ● Rachel’s Challenge: focused on connection, kindness, and prevention. ● MANDT Training: Trains staff in prevention and de-escalation strategies to safely respond to challenging behavior. ● Supplemental PD (Holistic School Safety): Professional learning that builds whole-school safety systems (trauma-informed, behavior supports, prevention, and wellness).	Targeted Population Served Through the SSV Grant The SSV Grant is targeted to support: ● Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) member schools ● Reservation schools ● MHSA Class C schools �� Tell us what your school needs (quick survey): https://forms.gle/PHi5qxUT5ecASkYM8
11) Advertising & Outreach (Educator Newsletter + Promotion)	MTPLC provides targeted advertising and outreach opportunities to education partners through our statewide communication channels—including a newsletter reaching over 12,000 educators across Montana.	Features: ● Newsletter placements (sponsored content, featured announcements, event promotions) ● Targeted outreach to educators, administrators, and district leaders ● Promotion of professional learning, conferences, tools, and education-related services ● Optional cross-promotion through MTPLC workshop/course promotion streams when aligned	Impact focus: Expands visibility of education-aligned offerings, strengthens statewide engagement, and helps partners reach Montana educators efficiently through a trusted professional learning network.
12) Conference Planning & Coordination	MTPLC provides full-service support for planning, coordinating, and executing regional and statewide education conferences and in-person professional learning events.	Supports may include: ● Event logistics and planning support (venues, timelines, schedules, budgets) ● Registration systems and attendee communications ● Presenter coordination and session scheduling ● Conference materials development (agendas, programs, signage, participant resources) ● On-site staffing support and event facilitation coordination ● Post-event follow-up, evaluation, and reporting	Outcome focus: Reduces administrative burden for hosts, ensures high-quality event execution, and supports impactful professional learning experiences for educators and schools across Montana.
13) PD Alignment & Accreditation Support (Montana School Accreditation)	MTPLC provides consultation and coordination to help districts align professional development planning and documentation with Montana OPI school accreditation standards and assurance requirements.	Supports may include: PD plan alignment, evidence/documentation organization, accreditation readiness guidance, and coordination of district-wide professional learning systems.
14) Professional Library Consulting & Improvement Services	MTPLC (through contracted specialists) provides professional library consulting and improvement services to help districts strengthen the organization, accessibility, functionality, and instructional impact of their school libraries. This service supports student learning, literacy engagement, and improved use of library space and resources.	Core Purpose: Enhance the District’s library so it better supports learning goals, improves student access to high-quality materials, and creates a welcoming, functional space aligned to instructional and literacy priorities.	Key Service Components (Short Version) ● Collection Audit + Weeding Support: Review collection and remove outdated/damaged/unused materials using professional library standards. ● Organization + Space Improvement: Improve shelving layout, functionality, and student access through a more organized, usable library space. ● Labeling + Signage Systems: Create clear categories, labels, and signage so students can independently find and return materials. ● Collection Development Guidance: Identify collection gaps and provide recommendations for new materials aligned to literacy and instructional needs. ● Optional Written Improvement Plan: Provide a summary of recommendations, timelines, and next steps for continued library improvement.