Strategic Plan Guidance
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
Get Grounded in the Evidence Base
As you start your summer learning journey, take a few minutes to review the foundational research and practical tools that help to shape the Summer Learning Framework. RAND’s Getting to Work on Summer Learning, 2nd Edition, draws on extensive data collected over four years of the National Summer Learning Project to make detailed recommendations for summer program providers. The Summer Learning Toolkit translates those recommendations into tools and examples from successful summer programs.
Resources
Getting to Work on Summer Learning, 2nd Edition (pages 9-17 offer a great summary of recommendations)
Launch Program Planning with a Steering Committee
One of your first planning steps is to form a Steering Committee/Planning Committee to lead summer program development.
Best Practice: Establish a Steering Committee or leadership structure, appropriate to the size of your district/campus.
The composition and work of your Steering Committee will vary depending on the size and scope of your program. Larger, multi-site programs may have a tiered structure that includes one decision-making body and several workgroups who meet separately to move work forward in between Steering Committee meetings. Single-site programs may have a smaller planning team that is more campus-based. You may also choose to engage some collaborators on a 1:1 basis.
What matters most is that a variety of people, with a variety of expertise and perspectives, are helping the Project Manager plan the summer program, collaboratively.
Best Practice: Ensure that there is an official with budget authority on the steering committee.
Additional representatives may include: Human Resources, Operations, Curriculum and Instruction (central office level), Teachers and Coaches (campus level), Enrichment Partner, Campus Leader, Special Populations Coordinator, ACE Coordinator, Family Engagement Specialist
Best Practice: Begin monthly meetings of the Steering Committee in the fall and plan to continue them during and after the summer program.
Planning Tips
Give busy people the option of designating the best representative for this initiative from their department.
Organize sub-committees or working teams to focus members’ time and optimize their skills and expertise.
Use the ADSY PEP Strategic Planning process and Summer Learning Framework to set agenda items for Steering Committee meetings.
EXAMPLE
Create Clear Work Plans and Follow Up
Best Practice: Establish clear project management protocols to communicate required actions, assignments, and progress among planning team members.
The composition and work of your Steering Committee will vary depending on the size and scope of your program. Larger, multi-site programs may have a tiered structure that includes one decision-making body and several workgroups who meet separately to move work forward in between Steering Committee meetings. Single-site programs may have a smaller planning team that is more campus-based. You may also choose to engage some collaborators on a 1:1 basis.
What matters most is that a variety of people, with a variety of expertise and perspectives, are helping the Project Manager plan the summer program, collaboratively.
Planning Tips
Use a collaboration tool (like Google Docs or Microsoft Teams) to keep a running agenda, add follow-up notes in real time, and “tag” responsible staff for action items
Use the Work Plan to manage overall planning across multiple work streams and teams
Create Forums for Stakeholder Input
Best Practice: Involve a variety of external stakeholders in developing program vision, and include forums for staff, families, and community partners to offer input to the program.
Meet Requirement for a 180-day School-year calendar
Resource
fourpoint_illo_ADSY Instructional.pdf
