2. Developing Your School Improvement Plan S M A R T Action Steps Essential Elements Protocols

3. The School Improvement Plan To create schools that are true standards- focused, middle-level schools will necessitate systemic change that will not be easy to accomplish. It will require leadership, persistence, additional resources, time, clear action steps, and a strong will to succeed. The task is challenging and daunting. However, it is necessary, and you can do it. When you know the direction you wish to move, go for it.

4. SMART Action Steps Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-phased

5. Specific The action step should be easily understood by those involved. The action step should not cause confusion or a difference of interpretation.

6. Ask yourself these questions… Who? What? When? Where? Why? Which?

7. Measurable If you can’t measure it, how do you know you have reached it?

8. Achievable Set action steps relevant to the needs you identified. Make sure they can be accomplished within your set time frame. Don’t set action steps that are outside your control.

9. Realistic To be realistic, your team must be both willing and able to work toward them. Get real, your action items need to focus on the characteristics in the Essential Elements!

10. Time-phased Break your action items into smaller, manageable chunks.

11. Your Middle – Level Team: The NYS Education Department The NYS Middle School Association (NYSMSA) The Network of SED Middle-Level Liaisons The School Administrator’s Association of New York State (SAANYS)