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.
  • Distribute the School-Connect Student Satisfaction Survey.
  • Distribute the School-Connect Teacher Satisfaction Survey.
  • Meet weekly, monthly, or quarterly to discuss implementation challenges and accomplishments, brainstorm potential solutions, and share success stories.