1. Planning for Success: Creating and Implementing an Effective District Strategy and Plan
Kathy Cross, Office of Research and Planning
Lori Likis, Ed.D., PfS Consultant
June 6, 2019

2. The Planning for Success model and process Creating a multi-year plan
Agenda
The Planning for Success model and process
Creating a multi-year plan
Improving an existing plan
Creating an annual action plan for implementation
PfS simulation: Envisioning the future
Q & A

3. The PfS Model A multi-year academic improvement plan
The heart of coherence when systems and resources are aligned
Budget and grants, Educator Evaluation System, school improvement plans
Implemented through an annual action plan

4. The Planning for Success Process
Create Plan
Analyze district performance, educator evaluation, and community feedback data for trends and patterns
Envision the future
Backward design the improvement strategy from specific, desired student outcomes, researching effective practices
Align Systems
Connect Educator Evaluation goals and School Improvement Plans to the District Plan
Leverage budget, grants, and resources in support of the District Plan
Build community commitment to the District Plan
Implement
Create an annual action plan with progress and impact benchmarks
Monitor and publicly report on progress
Redesign the District Plan if necessary
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. Planning for Success is…
Inclusive
Flexible
Hands-on
Simple and accessible DIY resources
Recommended

6. PfS Superintendent Feedback
“We weren’t just trying to come up with a plan; we were trying to change culture at the same time.” Superintendent Bob Sanborn, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School
“Compliance vs. engagement isn’t just about the kids; it’s about the adults, too!”
Superintendent Barbara Malkas, Webster Public Schools
“If you’re a teacher, principal, social worker, you can see yourself somewhere in this document.” Superintendent Dave DeRuosi, Malden Public Schools
Source: District Planning Case Studies: Planning for Success 2015 Pilot Projects

7. Some PfS Districts Include…
Burlington
Cambridge
Cape Cod Regional Technical
Concord and Concord-Carlisle
Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical
Malden
Marshfield
Northbridge
North Andover
North Middlesex Regional
Pilgrim Area Collaborative
Quabbin Regional
Randolph
Reading
Saugus
Silver Lake Regional
Valley Collaborative
Webster
Weston
Whitman-Hanson Regional

8. Creating a Multi-Year Plan

9. Elements of a Strategy and Plan
1. Mission, vision, core values
2. Data analysis and theory of action
3. Strategic objectives and initiatives, including:
a. Professional development
b. Teacher induction and mentoring activities
4. Outcomes (SMART goals)
Multi-Year Plan
(3 years)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

10. Steps in Creating a Plan
Designing the planning process
Getting started with the Planning Team
Analyzing the current context
Envisioning the future
Drafting and revising the plan
PfS facilitation resources and tools available on website

11. Trained PfS Facilitators
~50 facilitators trained to date
~30 available for contracting with districts
Facilitator bios and contact info posted

12. Designing the Planning Process: Questions to Consider
How will you structure the planning process?
What is your planning timeline?
Who will facilitate?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of facilitation by a member of the district vs. facilitation by someone from outside the district?
Will you create an inclusive Planning Team?
Who will be on that team?
How will you determine membership?
How will the Leadership Team participate in the process?
Who should participate as a member of the Leadership Team?

13. Sample Plan Review

14. What are some of the plan’s characteristics?
PfS Sample Plan Review
What are some of the plan’s characteristics?

15. Improving an Existing Plan
PfS District Plan Assessment

16. Assessing the Current Plan
Lived Experience
The District’s Work
Stated Objectives
The District Plan
Assessing the Current Plan

17. To what extent is the existing plan guiding the work of the district and supporting improvement?
8/31/2019

18. District Plan Assessment Protocol: Part 1
Organize into small mixed groups
Identify a facilitator and a recorder
Complete Part 1 of the District Plan Assessment, reflecting on the district’s work (do not refer to the district plan)
What are the objectives, or overarching goals, currently in effect for your district?
What strategic initiatives is the district working on this year?

19. District Plan Assessment Protocol: Part 2
Complete Part 2 of the District Plan Assessment, referring to the district plan
What similarities/differences do you see between the strategic objectives and initiatives you described as the district’s lived experience and those stated in the district plan?

20. District Plan Assessment Protocol: Part 3
Complete Part 3 of the District Plan Assessment
What do the similarities/differences between the district’s lived experience and district plan tell you about the current state of the existing plan?
What steps do you recommend, if any, for strengthening the existing district plan and its ability to support continuous improvement?

21. Reflection
In what ways do you imagine this activity would support your district in improving its plan?

22. Creating the Action Plan

23. Elements of an Action Plan
Implementation benchmarks
Process benchmarks: what, when, who
Early evidence of change benchmarks: measuring impact during implementation
Resources
Action Plan
(annual)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

24. Implementation Benchmarks
Process
What will be done, when, and by whom
Are we on track to accomplish what we want to accomplish? Is the work getting done?
Early evidence of change
Changes in practice, attitude, or behavior you should begin to see if the initiative is having its desired impact
Does our selected strategy appear to be having the desired impact?

25. Early evidence of change benchmark
Examples
Process benchmark
All grade 3 teachers will complete reading program professional development by October 15, 2019.
Early evidence of change benchmark
75% of all teacher observations conducted by principals at each school will contain evidence of reading strategy implementation by February 3, 2020.

26. How do these action plan benchmarks support continuous improvement?

27. PDSA Cycle
Moen, R. D., & Norman, C. L. (2010). Circling back. Quality Progress, 43(11), p.27.

28. Steps in Creating an Annual Action Plan
Preparing to action plan
Getting started with the action planning team
Drafting and revising the action plan
Monitoring and reporting on progress
PfS facilitation resources and tools available on website

29. Preparing to Action Plan: Questions to Consider
Which initiatives are highest priority for implementation in the coming year?
How will your district select/identify initiatives for action planning?
How would you like to structure the action planning process in order to build capacity?
Who should be involved in the action planning process and why?

30. Envisioning the Future Activity
For this simulation, think of your own district as you consider the visioning questions

31. Envisioning the Future: Back to the Future
What does [district name] look like, sound like, feel like today?
Project into the future; imagine it is 5 years later. Use the present tense!
What did [district name] look like before?
From the projected present, look back into the past (today). Use the past tense!
How did [district name] become what it is today?
Continue looking back from the projected present. Describe as specifically and concretely as possible. Use the past tense!
Adapted from Scott Murphy, SRI,

32. Using the Back to the Future Protocol
Organize into working groups
Identify a group facilitator, recorder, and presenter
Conduct the Back to the Future protocol
Adapted from Scott Murphy, SRI,
Facilitators monitor time as group members consider the three questions
Recorders chart group responses
Presenters share group responses with the whole group

33. Envisioning the Future: Back to the Future
What does [district name] look like, sound like, feel like today?
Project into the future; imagine it is 5 years later. Use the present tense!
What did [district name] look like before?
From the projected present, look back into the past (today). Use the past tense!
How did [district name] become what it is today?
Continue looking back from the projected present. Describe as specifically and concretely as possible. Use the past tense!
Adapted from Scott Murphy, SRI,

34. PfS facilitation resources, worksheets, sample plans, and case studies
To Learn More
PfS facilitation resources, worksheets, sample plans, and case studies