Holcomb's+5+Questions

=Holcomb's 5 Questions= What are the critical elements in the strategic plan that make it an excellent plan? According to Holcomb, an excellent strategic plan must answer these 5 questions, including the bulleted elements.
 * 1) Where are we now?
 * District Portfolio
 * Organizational Context - Student learning, student characteristics, staff characteristics, parent/community characteristics
 * Data from multiple years and multiple sources
 * 1) Where do we want to go?
 * Priority Goals
 * SMART Goals (**s**pecific, **m**easurable, **a**ggressive and **a**ttainable, **r**esults oriented, **t**ime bound)
 * Challenging
 * Limited in number
 * Some focus on classroom practice
 * 1) How will we get there?
 * Research (from non-practitioners, theorists)
 * Best-practices (from practitioners, other schools)
 * Examine local factors and current practice
 * Coordinated teacher collaboration
 * What will it take to do it?
 * Litmus test question - Will it raise acheivement for all students and narrow gaps?
 * 1) How will we know we are getting there?
 * Plan for training to ensure consistent, accurate implementation
 * Preplanned indicators of implementation
 * Preplanned indicators of impact
 * Annual data collection
 * Indicators are aligned with goal
 * Large-scale district and classroom assessments
 * 1) How can we keep it sustain focus and momentum?
 * Respond to reactions
 * Training and coaching (at intro and advanced levels)
 * Manage conflict
 * Culture of inquiry
 * Support leaders and followers