Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
(Revised August 2015)
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
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The Middle School Matters Institute (MSMI) is an initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin. MSMI develops and disseminates resources that increase access to research on and proven practical strategies for middle school improvement. The goal of MSMI is to increase the number of students well prepared for high school and postsecondary success.
More information about MSMI is available on the MSMI website .
More information about the Middle School Matters program is available on the George W. Bush Institute website .
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
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This document functions much like an architectural blueprint. A blueprint outlines critical components one must include and steps one must take to construct a sound structure—for example, where to place the walls. But a blueprint does not specify what color to paint the walls. Similarly, this blueprint outlines essential components for implementing research-based practices, but the exact action steps and timelines required depend on the unique contextual factors of each school.
The following visualization of the MSMI Implementation Blueprint emphasizes the importance of ongoing support and coaching, showing that schools may request support from MSMI at any point in the process. Interested schools, districts, or states can visit the
PD on Demand page of our website to learn more about the free support options to enhance implementation of research- and evidence-based practices, improve student outcomes, and prepare students for successful high school and postsecondary experiences.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
This document is organized by critical implementation stage. For each stage, the first column includes a description of steps to take and links to relevant MSMI-developed resources that assist educators with implementing the research-based principles and practices described in the Middle School Matters Research Platform and Field Guide. The second column provides space for schools to list major action steps and deadlines to complete the objectives within each stage.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
Step A: Complete the Middle School Matters School Readiness Assessment.
This brief, interactive online tool is for school leaders interested in implementing research-based practices and engaging with MSMI. The assessment determines a school’s strengths and areas that need to improve for the school to successfully implement research-based practices for school improvement. Upon completion, users receive a customized report with helpful guidance.
School Readiness Assessment www.middleschoolinstitute.org/assessment
Step B: Review Results of the Assessment. Your customized report provides information about your current capacity to implement research-based practices with fidelity. Consider the guidance and recommended resources. Discuss any necessary changes with your leadership team.
Your customized report can be e-mailed to you. Fill in your e-mail address when prompted at the end of the assessment. Results can be accessed online later by bookmarking the report link.
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
Step A: Review the Middle School Matters Field Guide. The Middle School
Matters Field Guide integrates research-based practices, strategies, and tools for effective implementation in many important topics to improve instruction in the middle grades. School leaders should review the Field Guide to learn the scope and breadth of the work, how to obtain the necessary support at the district level, and how to engage critical staff members and stakeholders.
Middle School Matters Field Guide www.middleschoolinstitute.org/fieldguide
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Step B: Review and Distribute Other Middle School Matters Research Summaries.
Because the Field Guide is lengthy, several sets of helpful research summaries and booklets are available. These resources are appropriate for a variety of individuals, including school board members, parents, teachers, and community members.
Research-Based Practices That Matter Booklet www.middleschoolinstitute.org/RBPThatMatter
Middle School Matters Practice Guides www.middleschoolinstitute.org/practiceguides
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
Step A: Establish a Middle School Matters Leadership Team. Several key players are needed on the Middle School Matters Leadership Team to ensure successful scaling up of research-based practices across a campus. Key players include the school principal and other administrators, teachers and teacher leaders, instructional coaches, counselors, data coordinators, parent and community liaisons, and school district staff members. Appointing a Middle School Matters
Manager to organize these efforts is highly recommended.
Middle School Matters Leadership Team Description and Checklist www.middleschoolinstitute.org/leadershipteam
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Step B: Achieve Staff Buy-In. Schools are often eager to begin implementing a new initiative before obtaining the necessary level of staff buy-in. However, if educators do not understand why a new initiative is beginning, what its goals are, and how implementation efforts affect them, the proposed changes will likely not be successful, no matter how organized the planning has been. Although immediate buy-in is possible through a celebration or kick-off event, buy-in is actually an ongoing process, achieved over time, and involves focusing on factors that research demonstrates can lead to teacher buy-in of school improvement efforts.
Understanding the Importance of Teacher Buy-In for School Improvement http://www.middleschoolinstitute.org/Buy-In
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
Step C: Develop Implementation and Action Plans. MSMI provides planning templates for each of the 13 content dimensions. These templates walk users through the processes of self-reflection, needs determination, and goal setting to develop an overall plan for improving implementation in that area. Once goals have been established, leadership teams develop action plans for each goal, establishing specific steps toward goal completion, due dates, managers, and required resources.
MSMI Implementation and Action Plan Templates www.middleschoolinstitute.org/planningtemplates
Strategic Planning for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in the Middle Grades www.middleschoolinstitute.org/planningblog
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Step D: Find Resources and Instructional Tools to Support Implementation.
Many instructional tools, research summaries, and professional development resources to support implementation can be found on the MSMI website. All resources on the MSMI website have been vetted for alignment with the researchbased practices found in the Middle School Matters Field Guide.
Middle School Matters Clearinghouse www.middleschoolinstitute.org/clearinghouse
Instructional Toolkits for Research-Based Practices www.middleschoolinstitute.org/toolkits
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
School leadership teams should follow each action step outlined in their plan. This stage will likely include familiarizing staff with the practices through professional development, conducting observations or walkthroughs when practices are implemented, noting implementation successes and challenges, and refining practices over time through additional professional development and coaching.
Teams should outline specific methods to monitor fidelity, including data sources needed.
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
MSMI Summer Conference Materials
(Available for download and use in campus professional development) www.middleschoolinstitute.org/summerconferencematerials
MSMI Webinars www.middleschoolinstitute.org/webinars
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
Step A: Assess Implementation Progress. With all the demands placed on educators, it is easy for action steps and goals to be forgotten or pushed aside.
Establishing regular check-in meetings with the Middle School Matters School
Leadership Team to review implementation and action plans, document progress, and adjust resource allocation encourages the timely completion of goals.
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Leadership Teams should ask themselves, “Have we done what we said we would?”
Step B: Collect and Examine Evidence of Implementation. Ongoing monitoring of implementation and student outcomes provides immediate feedback on the effectiveness of practices. Schools should collect reliable and valid data and/or evidence of implementation (e.g., student data, observations, lesson plans and student work samples, documented procedures and processes) that align with implementation goals.
Leadership Teams should ask themselves, “How well have we done what we intended?”
MSMI Instructional Feedback and Coaching Forms www.middleschoolinstitute.org/coachingforms
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Description
Step A: Provide Ongoing Professional Development, Coaching, and Support.
School leaders refine practices in several ways. A professional development session or professional learning community can correct specific misunderstandings when many teachers struggle with the same practice. Other teachers may need individualized support in the form of coaching, modeling of practices, or assistance with lesson planning. Continual data collection, support, and coaching should occur until practices are implemented with fidelity.
MSMI Instructional Feedback and Coaching Forms www.middleschoolinstitute.org/coachingforms
Your Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Step B: Adjust Implementation Plans and Goals. This is the time to make changes to the plan, such as discontinuing practices found not to be effective to allow time and energy for the new research-based instructional practices. School administrators and other teachers can help to review the data from Stage 5 and provide suggestions for changes to the plan. Obstacles and challenges need to be considered, and the school leader or leadership team can determine what changes to the plan are needed.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2015
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk www.middleschoolinstitute.org
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