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Ready for School-Connect but not sure how or where to start?

The Implementation Toolkit will help guide you to effective implementation.

Planning Steps/Checklist

STEP 1: Form a Leadership Team

Who should lead the effort? How are decisions made?

  • Recruit members who represent different stakeholders - administrators, teachers, support staff, students - and who share an interest in social and emotional skill building.
  • Keep the team small and manageable (3-4 members); once it is assembled, add teachers who will implement the program.
  • Clarify the decision-making process within the team and with the administrator who has final approval of the implementation plan.

STEP 2: Define Program Needs and Goals

What are you trying to accomplish? And why?

  • Conduct a needs assessment that includes:
    • School data (absentee and tardy rates, discipline incidents, standardized test scores, GPA, course failures, retention and graduation rates)
    • State and district mandates (violence prevention, AYP, API)
    • Student and teacher surveys. Click to the Evaluation Toolkit for survey options.
  • Use your data to:
    • Define measurable and attainable long- and short-term goals (attitudinal, behavioral, academic); See Evaluation Plan Matrix Sample, Column 1 for examples.
    • Decide what grade levels and/or student groups should receive the lessons.

STEP 3: Design an Implementation Plan

What? When? Where? Who? How?

  • Brainstorm and evaluate implementation options (e.g., freshman seminar, student advisory, academic integration).
  • Select or design an implementation model, taking into account class schedule, budget, and teacher availability.
  • Identify teachers with interest and experience in School-Connect objectives who would be available to teach School-Connect. Identify a lead teacher to guide and support the other teachers.
  • Design a scope and sequence (which lessons are taught with what frequency and over what period of time) given your class schedule, student population, and goals. Use the School-Connect Implementation Plan as a guide.
  • Research funding options and create a budget.
  • Create a plan for preparing teachers to implement the curriculum.
  • Consider piloting the program in one or two classes before implementing it on a larger scale.
  • Share the implementation plan with administration and staff.

STEP 4: Initiate and Monitor Implementation

Ready? Set. Go!

  • Supply one School-Connect manual per teacher.
  • Prepare handouts (Many schools recommend making all handouts at the beginning of the quarter or semester, rather than daily or weekly.)
  • Prepare teachers to implement the program.
  • Ask teachers to use the School-Connect Teacher Reflection Survey to reflect on their lesson implementation.
  • Check in with the students and staff.

STEP 5: Evaluate Program Effects

Is the program being implemented effectively? Are program goals being met?

STEP 6: Make Course Corrections if Necessary

Is the program on track? Are any modifications needed?

  • Discuss data results and feedback from students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
  • Brainstorm solutions to any bumps in the road.
  • Take time to acknowledge and celebrate progress; we often forge ahead without taking time to appreciate how far we've come.
    • Consider writing personal thank you notes or e-mails to students and colleagues.
    • Inform parents of positive behavioral changes in their children through personal notes or calls.
    • Include recognition in staff meetings or school assemblies.
  • Publish evaluation data and anecdotal examples in the school newsletter or local paper.

What Administrators are saying...

“I think it’s really important to have evaluation as a piece of your initiative. There’s a misconception that when we're talking about social and emotional learning, it's all touchy feely and there's no way to really get a handle on it, but with the right tools you can measure anything.”

— Lauren May, Co-chair, Student Improvement Team, Oak Lawn Community High School