The experience of countless school developers—including districts, charters, and organizations that create new schools—shows that it takes time, usually a full year or more, to get ready to open a new school. The same is true for transforming an existing school, although the specific challenges are different. In fact, most experts say an extended period dedicated to planning is absolutely necessary for the implementation of a school design.
\nSo, where do you start? Working backward from day one for students, think through the big milestones you need to hit, and by when. What do you need to have in place to hire a core staff and recruit and prepare faculty? To recruit and enroll students? To acquire or plan the right facility? What permissions and approvals do you need? When and how should you engage the community, the school board, local leaders? The milestones will be different for district schools and charter schools, and for new schools and redesigns. Your particular path will depend on a host of local factors, as well, which you need to understand in as much depth as possible.
\nYou may want to build in time for prototyping ideas or piloting new systems, which many innovators find extremely valuable. Steps like these don’t slow down implementation; instead, they offer valuable opportunities to explore, reflect, and fine-tune ideas—so much so that they may even allow you to move more quickly. Could you try a specific innovation—like using time differently to deliver advanced courses—to learn about calendar flexibility? Could you create a summer program—maybe credit-bearing, community-based learning experiences—to learn about partnerships? A well-planned prototype, including data collection and time for reflection, can yield essential insights into the systemic changes you’ll need to make to implement at scale.
\nAnother strategy that can be helpful is phasing in your vision over a few years. Some innovative schools start by implementing a new design with incoming students and building from there. Others develop a new program with a subgroup of students, such as seniors, and expand it from there. A phased approach can give you more time for intensive professional development, engaging students and families, and building up a cadre of committed partners.
\nAnd remember, no matter how carefully you plan, things won’t always go as anticipated. Your team will be managing lots of moving pieces and a number of contingencies, so unexpected things are bound to happen. Don’t get discouraged by the inevitable challenges you’ll face. With a solid plan and a resilient mindset, you’ll be able to respond well in any situation.
\n","bgColor":"white","showShape":null,"showButton":null,"buttonLabel":null,"buttonPDF":null},{"fieldGroupName":"DesignPage_Designpagesmodules_ContentBlocks_ReadMoreLinks","eyebrow":null,"headline":"Dive Deep","bgColor":"white","addIcon":null,"items":[{"image":{"alt":"student building with small blue blocks","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/inabox/static/bb5bf0cb4031a8c54bdb82cbeaaa0fb8/db189/Networks_Fact3_DiveDeep__04.png","srcSet":"/inabox/static/bb5bf0cb4031a8c54bdb82cbeaaa0fb8/f054e/Networks_Fact3_DiveDeep__04.png 750w,\n/inabox/static/bb5bf0cb4031a8c54bdb82cbeaaa0fb8/db189/Networks_Fact3_DiveDeep__04.png 900w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/inabox/static/bb5bf0cb4031a8c54bdb82cbeaaa0fb8/4f03f/Networks_Fact3_DiveDeep__04.webp 750w,\n/inabox/static/bb5bf0cb4031a8c54bdb82cbeaaa0fb8/3987a/Networks_Fact3_DiveDeep__04.webp 900w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"100vw"}]},"width":1,"height":1}}}},"buttonText":"Read","text":"The School Start-Up Checklist from SUNY’s charter school think tank is a helpful snapshot, in spreadsheet form, of the many pieces that need to fit together to form a public school. It’s a useful inventory, whether you’re planning a district or a charter school.","title":"School Start-Up Checklist","link":"https://schools.nyccharterschools.org/resources/suny-csi-start-checklist","excludefromresources":null},{"image":{"alt":"two students working","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/inabox/static/46f66a37b31c66d43691e7bbd8c69526/db189/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact2_DiveDeep__02.png","srcSet":"/inabox/static/46f66a37b31c66d43691e7bbd8c69526/f054e/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact2_DiveDeep__02.png 750w,\n/inabox/static/46f66a37b31c66d43691e7bbd8c69526/db189/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact2_DiveDeep__02.png 900w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/inabox/static/46f66a37b31c66d43691e7bbd8c69526/4f03f/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact2_DiveDeep__02.webp 750w,\n/inabox/static/46f66a37b31c66d43691e7bbd8c69526/3987a/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact2_DiveDeep__02.webp 900w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"100vw"}]},"width":1,"height":1}}}},"buttonText":"Read","text":"Research shows that schools achieve more when teachers and other members of the school community take on leadership within the change process. This resource from New Leaders reviews the literature and includes real-life vignettes.","title":"Distributed Leadership Toolkit","link":"https://www.newleaders.org/distributed-leadership-toolkit","excludefromresources":null},{"image":{"alt":"orange lockers","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/inabox/static/07c9fd1046d042cabc721b7c4d461ed8/db189/Networks_Fact2_DiveDeep__01.png","srcSet":"/inabox/static/07c9fd1046d042cabc721b7c4d461ed8/f054e/Networks_Fact2_DiveDeep__01.png 750w,\n/inabox/static/07c9fd1046d042cabc721b7c4d461ed8/db189/Networks_Fact2_DiveDeep__01.png 900w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/inabox/static/07c9fd1046d042cabc721b7c4d461ed8/4f03f/Networks_Fact2_DiveDeep__01.webp 750w,\n/inabox/static/07c9fd1046d042cabc721b7c4d461ed8/3987a/Networks_Fact2_DiveDeep__01.webp 900w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"100vw"}]},"width":1,"height":1}}}},"buttonText":"Read","text":"Logic modeling is a tool to enhance program planning implementation and dissemination. This guide from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation helps leaders and community members get started with this process.","title":"Logic Model Development Guide","link":"https://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resources/2004/01/logic-model-development-guide","excludefromresources":null},{"image":{"alt":"a teacher smiling","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/inabox/static/187fa821b4d80ced2b786b04f5a22e2a/db189/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact1_DiveDeep__01.png","srcSet":"/inabox/static/187fa821b4d80ced2b786b04f5a22e2a/f054e/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact1_DiveDeep__01.png 750w,\n/inabox/static/187fa821b4d80ced2b786b04f5a22e2a/db189/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact1_DiveDeep__01.png 900w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/inabox/static/187fa821b4d80ced2b786b04f5a22e2a/4f03f/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact1_DiveDeep__01.webp 750w,\n/inabox/static/187fa821b4d80ced2b786b04f5a22e2a/3987a/SchoolMissionCulture_Fact1_DiveDeep__01.webp 900w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"100vw"}]},"width":1,"height":1}}}},"buttonText":"Read","text":"Here’s the story of how INACOL (now Aurora Institute) worked with eight NYC schools to implement blended learning—and get everyone on board with the new approach.","title":"A Roadmap for Implementation","link":"http://www.aurora-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/a-roadmap-for-implementation.pdf","excludefromresources":null}]},{"fieldGroupName":"DesignPage_Designpagesmodules_ContentBlocks_ActivityBlock","text":"There are major, practical milestones any team needs to meet during the process of implementing a new school or launching a school redesign.
\nHave each person sketch a timeline showing the major milestones you’ll need to meet to launch a new or redesigned school in your community. Compare your timelines: How much overlap is there in your thinking? What more do you need to know? Now create a composite sketch to share with people in your district, region, or state who’ve been involved with similar projects. Ask for their candid feedback: What do they see as the strengths and weaknesses of your plan? Where do they think you’re likely to run into delays or problems? What are you missing?
\nShare your thoughts and takeaways with your team and discuss these questions:
\n