Resources for an Adaptive Strategic Plan
Schools are more than just places to learn. They’re dynamic social systems that are constantly evolving. In fact, in today’s educational environment, the only reliable constant is change.
As our school systems and students’ learning needs continue to transform, the strategic plans that serve them often remain far too stagnant. Traditional 5-year plans often sit on the shelf once they’re no longer relevant or once detailed implementation tactics are no longer the best way to achieve the district’s priorities.
There’s a better way.
When we think of our strategic plans not as rigid reports but as iterative, living documents, we can better adapt to the changes that will inevitably come.
And this extends to the entire process surrounding a strategic plan as well. Rather than investing time in an immovable, linear process that doesn’t reflect the realities of a dynamic system, districts can focus on a clear, evidence-based theory of action while also staying nimble and adaptive long after a plan is published.
Adopting this kind of fluid, strategic process requires shifting two main things: mindsets and action steps. ERS partnered with the National Equity Project (NEP) to create some resources to help leaders do both. Learn more below:
The Future of Strategic Planning: An Adaptive Approach for Changing Times
Explore our shared vision for a new strategic planning process, including:
- Why we need an adaptive planning process now more than ever
- How an iterative plan can serve as a roadmap for the district
- Why shifting how we do the work and how we lead the work is so critical to success
From Static to Strategic: A Guide to an Effective and Empowering Planning Process
Discover step-by-step guidance from ERS for creating an adaptive strategic plan, including:
- Suggestions for using data to understand your district’s context, decide where to focus, and know what’s working
- Three core phases, with how-to instructions for each
- Details on anchoring your planning process in your district’s core need and a strong theory of action
Adaptive Strategic Planning for Complex Times: A Guide for Education Leaders
Learn about NEP’s key factors that make adaptive strategic planning work, including:
- Managing internal change effectively and embracing complexity as a group
- Shifting mindsets and practices to become true “host leaders”
- Applying the “expand, bridge, and adapt” model
Ready to implement an adaptive strategic planning process in your district? We can help.