A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Section III
Planning Schoolwide Program Change

There are as many possible approaches to planning a schoolwide program as there are schools and school leaders undertaking the challenge. We suggest a six-step approach, based on planning guidance developed by experienced technical assistance providers in states, Regional Educational Laboratories, and Comprehensive Centers. This approach, which schoolwide programs across the country have used successfully, involves the following steps:

Step 1: Establishing a Planning Team

Step 2: Conducting a Comprehensive Needs Assessment

Step 3: Clarifying Needs and Finding Research-based Strategies

Step 4: Setting Schoolwide Program Goals

Step 5: Writing the Schoolwide Plan

Step 6: Finalizing the Schoolwide Plan

Completing a sustainable plan that addresses the ESEA requirements, encompasses all aspects of the school, and involves the whole community generally takes a full year. To help planning teams move through each step, this Idea Book includes an appendix of Planning Tools, which are highlighted in italics in appropriate sections of this chapter. Teams can use them in their current form or modify them to accommodate unique needs.

Schools should not expect to work in isolation to develop their schoolwide plans. It often takes outside advisors to suggest approaches that may not occur to people who are caught up in the day-to-day challenges of education. Technical assistance is available from district office personnel and school support teams, and from distinguished educators who have themselves planned and implemented schoolwide programs. Procedures for obtaining such assistance differ from state to state, but Section IV, following this section on planning, presents an overview of the state and district technical assistance available for ESEA program planning.

-###-

[Section II - An Overview. . .]

[Section IV - High Quality Technical Assistance and Support. . .]