Describe the Ideal State

1. Conducting a Comprehensive Needs Assessment Describe the Ideal State

2. Session Question • How do school and district staff come to consensus about an ideal state that describes their school/district once the problem is solved? 2

3. Why Is This Step Important? • Provides a common, concrete vision of the end goal • Answers important questions • Guides development of the improvement plan “A collective vision is the engine that drives school reform.” USDoE. (2006). Designing schoolwide programs: Non-regulatory guidance, p. 10. Washington, DC: Author. 3

4. The timing of this session is important— • Describing the ideal state may take place as a continuation of the session on formulating the problem statement, or it may occur in a subsequent meeting. • If in a later meeting, schedule that meeting no more than a week after the problem statement has been formulated. • Too much time between these sessions slows momentum when the group is at a critical point in building commitment to the improvement work. 4

5. Re-examining the Problem Statement Individually, review the problem statement, underlining aspects of the problem that need to be solved. Teachers do not collaborate on lesson plans or use research-based practices, and literacy instruction is not aligned to standards. 5

6. Re-examining the Problem Statement Possible key words and phrases: Teachers do not collaborate on lesson plans or use research-based practices, and literacy instruction is not aligned to standards. 6

7. What Is an Ideal State? A description of how the system would function if the problem were solved 7

8. Describing the Ideal State With your table group, brainstorm words, phrases, or symbols to express how the system would function if the problem were solved. Chart and discuss your ideas with your group. 8

9. Describing the Ideal State Convert the words, phrases, and symbols into 1–2 sentences that describe the school with the problem solved. Write the statement on chart paper. Post the statement on the wall. 9

10. Describing the Ideal State Use ideas from all table groups, as desired, to revise your table group’s statement. Edit your existing statement or rewrite a revised statement on a new sheet of chart paper. 10

11. Example of Problem and Ideal State Problem: Teachers do not collaborate on lesson plans or use research-based practices, and literacy instruction is not aligned to standards. Ideal State: The school has a system to ensure that teachers know and use research-based literacy practices and that they collaborate regularly to plan lessons using these practices to align instruction to state standards. 11

12. Reminders for Describing the Ideal State The ideal state represents the shared vision for improvement. Trust the process; it is sometimes messy. Use concise and specific language for your ideal state. Remember, the ideal state describes the problem statement as solved. 12

13. What are some benefits, potential challenges, and ways to overcome the challenges in the process of describing the ideal state? Reflection on Creating an Ideal State 13