What's Communicated Matters: The Design of State School Improvement Plan Templates

• In Event: External Support Structures: Promoting, Strengthening, and Sustaining Reform Efforts

Abstract

State-developed school improvement resources, such as school improvement plan (SIP) templates, can communicate states’ perspectives, requirements, and recommendations of the school improvement planning process. These resources, in turn, can influence how educators engage with school improvement efforts. In this study, we leverage a conventional content analysis to rigorously examine the SIP templates published by state education agencies (SEAs) in the United States. We were particularly interested in learning how states’ SIP templates portrayed the school improvement planning process. Findings suggest that SIP templates focused more on developing SIPs than putting them into action, raising concerns about SIP development continuing to be viewed as a compliance exercise rather than a mechanism for spurring real change and improvement in schools.

Authors

• Bryan A. VanGronigen, University of Delaware

• Latrice Marianno, University of Delaware

• Coby Meyers, University of Virginia

• Rachel Antwi Adjei, University of Delaware

• Linda Charris, University of Delaware