Collaborative strategic planning as illustration of the principles of systems change

Mandates through legislative and policy changes for increased student outcome accountability have intensified demands for meaningful school reform and an emphasis on scientifically based practices. However, there continues to be a major disconnection between an ever-growing body of research on effective educational practices and what is actually occurring in many schools. Whether an innovation is implemented and sustained is more often related to features of the school as a system than to features of the innovation. This article describes a collaborative strategic planning model that is grounded in understanding schools as systems and guided by principles of organizational change. The model is explained and examples of its application are provided using a statewide school-based change program as an illustration.