1. Module 5: Communication Plan and Process for Addressing Barriers
miblsi.org

2. Outcomes
Identify communication plan components and preview work that has been started on the communication plan
Refine and finalize the draft of the communication plan for executive leadership (cabinet) approval
Identify the components of a process to remove barriers and preview work that has been started to address barriers impeding implementation efforts
Test the steps of the barrier removal process
Refine and propose a final draft of the process for executive leadership (cabinet) approval

3. Use of Module Learning
Limited use now; however, once cohort 1 schools begin accessing professional learning in the winter, your team should at least be frequently using the school leadership team and school coach linking communication protocols
Depending on the number of barriers that arise as schools are working to install PBIS, you will be using the barrier removal process during that time as well

4. 1.0 Communication Plan

5. Definition
Communication Plan: written document that the outlines the protocol (process) for communicating to internal and external teams whose work would be impacted by the selection and use of effective innovations across the district

6. Communication Plan Components
Identified Groups / Teams and collective staff
Protocol (process) for what information needs to be gathered and disseminated to each group / team, in what format, and in a pre-determined timeframe
Designees from each group / team that are assigned the task of gathering and disseminating information
Communication survey and the dates to assess the effectiveness of communication

7. Activity 1.1
After this power point you have an example template for a communication plan and barrier removal process. Access that document and open to its Table of Contents
In the next activity you will be building upon work that has started for your district’s communication plan
Take a moment to label the four components of the example communication plan

8. 1. Groups / teams and collective staff
Considerations for identifying groups / teams:
Team’s work overlaps with the behavior and reading MTSS components (effective innovation)
Team consists of people that have the ability to remove barriers impeding people’s use of the MTSS components (e.g., central office, administrative team)
Teams consists of people in critical roles who will be supporting the use of MTSS components (e.g., coaches)
Teams and / or team members who can influence PD, curriculum and assessment decisions since the MTSS work touches on curriculum, instruction, intervention and assessment

9. 2. Protocol (Process) Includes the following:
Mutually agreed upon information to be gathered and disseminated from groups / teams
Designee for each group / team to communicate the necessary information
Frequency for how often communication will occur to and from the DITs and groups / teams
Format for gathering and disseminating information

10. 3. Designees Consider the following when identifying a designee:
The information that needs to be gathered “from” and disseminated “to” groups / teams might suggest one DIT member over others would be a better fit
Easy access to the groups / teams or members of the team
Ability to follow through with communication shortly following team meetings (1-2 days)

11. 4. Communication Survey Benefits:
Provides a regular opportunity to assess the effectiveness of communication
Creates an opportunity to make refinements based on survey feedback
Conveys the message that communication is important
Reduces comments about poor communication when survey data were used to strengthen the communication plan

12. Communication Survey Example

13. Activity 1.2
Some initial work has been started on your district’s communication plan by your Liaison with input from central office and principals
They have started to identify the groups / teams that need to be included in the communication plan and started to shape some of the linking communication protocols
Your MIBLSI Implementation Specialist and MTSS Coordinator have taken what was started and are going to facilitate you through reviewing and shaping the communication plan components

14. 2.0 Process for Addressing Barriers

15. Connection to Communication
Effectively communicating the barrier is the first step in being able to address the barrier
Each linking communication protocol identifies “implementation barriers” as one piece of information that needs to come from each group / team
The information the DIT provides back to the group / team is how the barrier is being addressed

16. Barrier Process Components
Outlines a series of steps that need to be done from the point in which the DIT is made aware of a barrier to the point in which it has been confirmed the barrier has been removed

17. Barrier Process Components (cont.)
People included within the steps are:
People with the highest level of decision making authority to remove the barrier
DIT designees to discuss the barrier with the appropriate decision-maker
DIT designees to provide information back to the groups / teams that raised the barrier to the DIT and to check to see if the way the barrier was addressed was sufficient

18. Identifying Decision-Makers
After the steps outlining the process, decision types and the district personnel that can make the decisions are outlined
The DIT assigns a designee responsible for speaking with the decision-makers since they may or may not be a DIT member
Example language is provided for what decision-makers would need to outline for DIT designees so they can effectively communicate back to the DIT and the group / team that raised the barrier

19. Activity 2.1
Some initial work has been started on your district’s process for addressing barriers by your Liaison with input from central office and principals
Your MIBLSI Implementation Specialist and MTSS Coordinator have taken what was started and are going to facilitate you through reviewing and shaping your district’s process for addressing barriers
When you have finished, test the process with an implementation barrier

20. Module 5 Assignment
Access the District Installation Checklist to review the activities assigned for Module 5
Make sure your progress is up to date on the previous module checklist items