Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint:
School Edition
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
1
Updated January 2015
About the Middle School Matters Institute
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, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
2
Updated January 2015
About This Document
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 those 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
Our Support 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, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
3
Updated January 2015
This document is organized by critical implementation stage. For each stage, the first column includes a description. Listed in the
second column are 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 third column contains
“professional wisdom” from practitioners who have participated in the Middle School Matters program—practical information
relevant to educators implementing research-based practices. The last column provides space for schools to list major action steps
and deadlines to complete the objectives within each stage.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
4
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 1: Assess Readiness
Description
Complete the 10-item
Middle School Matters
School Readiness
Assessment to determine
strengths and areas in
need of improvement to
support successful
implementation of
research-based practices.
Upon completion, users
receive a customized
report with helpful
guidance.
Resources Available
Middle School Matters
School Readiness
Assessment
Professional Wisdom
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
 Engage your leadership
team in the assessment
process to ensure that
all viewpoints are
considered and
incorporated into
assessment responses.
 Use the assessment to
identify strengths and
needs and to set goals.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
5
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 2: Review Research
Description
Resources Available
Professional Wisdom
Review the Middle
School Matters Field
Guide (and other
accompanying
documents), which
identifies the most
current research-based
principles and practices
in 13 areas to inform the
work of schools that
serve students in the
middle grades.
 Middle School Matters
Field Guide
 Focus on content areas
in which your data
and/or readiness
assessment indicate
that students or staff
members have
particular challenges.
 Research-Based
Practices That Matter
(Summary of the MSM
Field Guide)
 Middle School Matters
Practice Guides
 Standards Alignment to
the Middle School
Matters Field Guide
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
 Carefully review the
principles and
practices, which offer
specific, concrete areas
of focus and action.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
6
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 3: Plan
Description
Resources Available
Professional Wisdom
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
 Include a
representative sample
of content areas and
grade levels.
(a) Establish a Middle
School Matters school
leadership team. These
key players can guide the
implementation of the
research-based principles
and practices.
Leadership Team
Checklist
(coming soon)
(b) Achieve staff buy-in.
Inform staff members
about Middle School
Matters, including the
practices in the Middle
School Matters Field
Guide and the supporting
research base.
 Research-Based
Practices That Matter
(Summary of the MSM
Field Guide)
 Blog: Understanding
the Importance of
Teacher Buy-In for
School Improvement
 Middle School Matters
Practice Guides
 Provide staff members
with MSMI materials.
 MSMI bookmark
 Align with campus
improvement plan and
other initiatives.
 Align this team with
your campus’ response
to intervention,
problem solving, and
data teams.
 Middle School Matters
Clearinghouse
brochure
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
7
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 3: Plan (cont.)
Description
Resources Available
(c) Develop
MSMI Implementation
implementation plans.
and Action Plan
Identify areas of need,
Templates
according to your data
and readiness
assessment, and decide
which content dimensions
to focus on. Complete
one Implementation Plan
Template per content
dimension.
(d) Find resources to
support implementation.
Many instructional tools,
research summaries,
professional development
modules, and practice
guides can be found on
the MSMI website.

Middle School
Matters
Clearinghouse

Research-Based
Practices Toolkits
Professional Wisdom
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
 Focus on no more than
three content
dimensions during the
first year of
implementation.
 Blog:
Strategic Planning for
Implementing EvidenceBased Practices in the
Middle Grades
Divide and conquer:
Delegate team members
to search for resources
that align with each
implementation plan.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
8
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 4: Implement
Description
Resources Available
Professional Wisdom
(a) Begin implementing
your plans and consult
with your MSMI Tier I
coach for more
information or assistance
at any point along the
way.
Tier I Support Request
Form to receive a coach
Use the plans to inform
decisions, planning, and
delegation of tasks.
(b) Review the Middle
School Matters Blog for
implementation tips from
researchers and
practitioners.
Middle School Matters
Blog
Share the blog and its
unique insights.
(c) Gather instructional
materials, including
lesson plans, student
printables, templates,
video examples, and
teacher learning tools.
 Research-Based
Practices Toolkits
Make sure that the
instructional materials
you use align with
research-based practices
and are gathered from
trusted sources.
 MSMI Pinterest Board
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
9
Updated January 2015
Implementation Stage 4: Implement (cont.)
Description
(d) Conduct ongoing
professional
development and
coaching to help
educators grow and
implement the researchbased practices.
Resources Available
 MSMI Webinars
 Summer Conference
materials
 Research-Based
Practices Toolkits
Professional Wisdom
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Blogs:
Designing and Delivering
Effective Professional
Development
Developing Effective
Teachers Through
Targeted Professional
Development
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
10
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 5: Monitor and Reflect
Description
Resources Available
Professional Wisdom
(a) Review goals and
action plans and
reflect on progress.
Use school’s existing
implementation plans,
action plans, and notes
Ask: Have we done what
we said we would?
(b) Collect evidence of
implementation.
MSMI Instructional
Feedback and Coaching
Forms

Fidelity is vital to
successful
implementation.
Without it, one
cannot accurately
identify the needs of
struggling students.

Ask: How well have
we done what we
intended?
Examples:

Student data

Observations

Lesson plans and
student work samples

Documented
procedures and
protocols
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
11
Updated January 2015
Implementation Stage 5: Monitor and Reflect (cont.)
Description
(c) Interpret data.
Resources Available
Use school’s existing
implementation plans
and data collected in (b)
above
Professional Wisdom

Conducting regular
leadership team
meetings and/or data
meetings will foster
accountability toward
your plans and goals.

Ask: Are we seeing
any progress? If not,
how can we improve
practice?
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
12
Updated January 2015
Middle School Matters Implementation Blueprint: School Edition
Implementation Stage 6: Refine
Description
Resources Available
(a) Adjust and refine
goals and
implementation plans as
needed.
Use school’s existing
implementation plans
(b) Request advanced
support services from
MSMI to enhance
implementation of
research-based practices.
Coming soon
Refinement Matrix
(coming soon)
Professional Wisdom
Major Action Steps and Deadlines
Consider your plans
“living documents” that
grow and evolve with the
needs of the campus.
Middle School Matters Institute, 2014
An initiative of the George W. Bush Institute in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk
www.middleschoolinstitute.org
13