Guidelines for Implementing New Approaches to Student Learning

Below are guidelines for building the skills and processes needed in implementing new approaches to student learning and leading successful school change and improvement efforts (see Louis & Miles, 1990; Deal & Peterson, 1994; Fullan, 1993):

Formulate a clear educational vision and a mission to improve student learning.
Establish a process for collecting and analyzing data on student learning to determine whether the school is achieving its goals.
Identify areas in which student learning is not up to the school's standards.
Decide which areas are problematic and therefore should be addressed first.
Develop new courses of action and innovative instructional approaches and select the most appropriate, feasible, and useful approaches to address the areas that need improvement.
Identify resources, training, materials, etc., that are needed to implement these new courses of action or instructional approaches.
Develop the ability to solve problems and cope with difficulties as they arise while implementing new approaches.
Recognize the importance of working in teams and learn how to build staff's capacity to work in teams.
Keep the school informed about problem areas and school improvement plans.
Celebrate success.

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