Branching Minds sets free virtual MTSS summit for Dec. 3 with James Lane keynote

Branching Minds will host its sixth annual MTSS Summit on Dec. 3, 2026, as a free virtual event for K-12 leaders, with former Virginia Superintendent James F. Lane delivering the opening keynote. The conference centers on connected systems in MTSS, literacy, math and special education, with registration open through Nov. 30.

Why it matters: - The summit is free for the first time, which lowers the barrier for district and school leaders to access MTSS training and case studies. - The program is aimed at leaders trying to align academic, behavior, attendance and intervention systems around student outcomes. - The event comes as districts face pressure to show measurable results from school improvement efforts.

What happened: - Branching Minds announced Dr. James F. Lane as the opening keynote speaker for the 2026 MTSS Summit. - The virtual summit is set for Dec. 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. - Registration is open through Nov. 30 at Branching Minds' summit page. - The summit is in its sixth year and carries the theme “Connected Systems. Confident Practice.”

The details: - Lane is the former Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction and CEO of Unlimited Instruction LLC. - His keynote, “Leading with Laser Focus,” will focus on school improvement strategies for district leaders. - Branching Minds says the keynote will draw on practical resources from Lane’s career. - Lane previously led Virginia’s pandemic response and promoted the state’s Virginia is for Learners initiative. - He also served as superintendent in Chesterfield, Goochland and Middlesex County Public Schools. - Lane was named Virginia Superintendent of the Year in 2017. - The summit includes two breakout blocks on systems-level implementation and change management, reading and math outcomes, multilingual learners, and student safety and wellness. - Featured sessions include “District Leadership that Supports Confident School-Level Practice: A Case Study with Cumberland County, NC” and “When Growth Isn't Enough: Understanding the Gap Between Progress and Proficiency.” - Featured presenters include Dr. Dia Bryant of Jersey City, N.J.; Hillary Rinaldi of Whiteboard Advisors and the National Math Improvement Project; Jemn Hershberger of Cumberland County Schools, N.C.; and Dr. Marianne Simon of Duval County Public Schools, Fla. - The summit is designed for superintendents, chief academic officers, curriculum and student services directors, MTSS/RTI coordinators, school psychologists, counselors, principals and interventionists. - Branching Minds customers can attend an exclusive Customer Pre-Conference Day on Dec. 2 focused on using the platform to improve visibility and consistency in student support. - The company says its platform combines academic, behavior, attendance and intervention data in one place and turns that data into actionable insights for intervention planning.

Between the lines: - The move to a free format suggests Branching Minds is broadening access and widening the reach of its professional learning audience. - The speaker lineup points to a stronger emphasis on district-level implementation, not just classroom practice. - The focus on connected systems reflects a broader push in K-12 to link data and interventions instead of managing initiatives separately.

What's next: - District and school leaders can register through Nov. 30. - Branching Minds customers have a separate pre-conference day on Dec. 2. - The summit will run online on Dec. 3, with breakout sessions and keynote programming throughout the day. - More information is available at Branching Minds' summit page.