Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Second Step: Developing a Solution

If you want to secure grant money for your school, the first step is to understand in detail the problems your school faces. Once you have clearly identified those hurdles to student achievement or schoolwide success, the second step is to develop a plan/solution that has the greatest likelihood of achieving your goals.

When I first became a middle school principal, our test scores indicated that we had a reading problem. Overall, our students read about 1.5 grade levels below the national average. We already had a Title I reading program, but we weren’t getting very good results. We did our research and found that:

1) Although we had a serious school-wide reading problem, only our very poorest readers attended reading classes.
2) Although we knew that reading was a skill, we did not provide enough time durng the school day for our students to practice that skill.
3) Monitoring large amounts of independent reading is difficult without enough computers and specialized software.

With that knowledge, we were able to put together a comprehensive plan in which

• all students, regardless of their reading levels, would attend a reading class.
• each student would spend one hour each day in reading practice on appropriate-level materials.
• we would use the STAR reading test to determine the beginning reading levels of students and to measure growth.
• we would use Accelerated Reader software to monitor students' daily reading.

In addition, we would initiate "structural" changes in order to meet the needs of our new program:

• In order to make time in the school day for students to receive an hour of reading practice, we had to change from a 7-period to an 8-period schedule.
• All of our teachers would become reading teachers in order to monitor 30 minutes of reading practice time. The regular reading teachers monitored the other 30 minutes and taught mini-lessons on skills.
• We had to purchase STAR and Accelerated Reader.
• We had to purchase thousands of library books to match the reading levels, interests, and reading volume of our students.
• We had to purchase dozens of computers to monitor the program.

We developed a special budget in order to put our plan into place. While our solution was relatively expensive, we did not consider costs when we developed the plan. We only considered the results we would be likely to achieve. To get the money we needed to fund our plan, we tapped into the regular budget, Title I, and special education funds. But that wasn’t enough. We wrote grants, and we entered into a partnership with the software company to do detailed research as we measured our students’ reading growth.

When your school faces a hurdle to student achievement, the key is to build a plan that directly addresses the problem and has the greatest likelihood of success. When you are developing your plan, don’t worry about costs. That will come later. If you can, find schools with similar demographics that have faced similar problems and made major improvements. Duplicate the best parts of their plans if it’s feasible for you to do so -- without consideration to money.

When your plan is complete -- and you’re sure it is comprehensive and has an excellent chance of success -- then comes the time to start worrying about the budget and finding the money to fund your program. Which brings us to the topic we will cover in my next blog: finding grant money to fund your program.

39 comments:

Unknown said...

Getting a school grant is not easy but possible. The most important part is motivation letter. Be creative and don't forget to proofread it.

See how to proofread a motivation letter.

SteveM said...

As i think, this step is the most important one. In my opinion, it`s quite easy to identify the problem. But finding a solution is a really hard task. Developed plan should be excellent. Only in this case, you will reach success. For me, it`s quite similar to college writing. You know, when you do research, you have to make a plan and stick to it (of course, with college paper writing from smartpaperhelp.com things are much easier). So for me, right plan is 50% of success. Thanks for your tips!

Unknown said...

Hello Friends, I am glad to inform you that here we are going to provide you the best website for spades free online games and these games are of cards. You can play these games online without any downloading or registration process, also without facing any type of error or hurdle and these games are available in various varieties with different levels in the best quality. These games are classic games and scoring too with quick response. Try out these games for once.

Johny Sinn said...

I was in search of the information that can win my heart and then I found your blog and got everything from here. Thanks
Freezone company formation

Richard Majece said...

I am sure that advices from this website will help you to find out more about high schools in USA. You can use it in your academic future

Essay Writing And Editing Services said...

Nice for informative blog

Essay Writing Service
Essay Writing

Assignment Help said...

Great post!
College Essay Help

amanda stephanie said...

very useful information.
Get Expository Essay help at https://assignmentfirm.com/essay-help/expository-essay.php

kristen said...

StudentsAssignmentHelp.com offers the best assignment proofreading services. We have the top assignment writers who provide excellent quality assignment writing services to the students. Our professional writers have proficiency in a writing assignment.

singapore assignment help said...

SingaporeAssignmentHelp.com is available 24*7 so drop us mail for your contract Assignment help online and get quality error less assignment on before time of deadline at minimum cost by our experts.

Rebecca Virginia said...

This is Great post! thanks for sharing with us.
Artificial Intelligence Assignment Help

ammie said...

Nice post keep on sharing new things. Strategic Analysis IKEA

Stefan Carl said...

Assignments are very important for the students because it helps in their exam. An assignment consists of a complete revision of a topic. so Students Assignment Help offers assignment help to the students of college and Universities.

Unknown said...

Drop the pressure to submit an assignment in a limited time. Therefore, don't worry australiaassignmenthelp.com have all assignment solution for students. Our top Ph.D. and master experts provide you assignment assistance and finish your assignment timely. You just go on the website and type write my assignment and then related experts are available for you.

Lillian J. Turner said...

MyBloggerClub

Guest Posting Site

Best Guest Blogging Site

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogging Site

AntonioPR said...

I faced such a problem at work. And my colleagues advised your blog to deal with this once and for all. Thanks for the life hacks.

Stephen Hawking said...

This is a really good read for me. and I work as Assignment Writer at UK Academic Writers which is a firm that Helps Uk student.

English Essay Writing

Monnika Jacob said...

During the conversation with students of Cambridge University, Experts of Research Paper Writing Services realize that students are more capable to developing a solution about any circumstances.

s said...








Wonderful information! I found amazing information on the blogs i suggest everyone to follow the links below to get download files from this website.



https://apkfasak.com/fmwhatsapp-apk/
https://apkfasak.com/gb-whatsapp-apk/
https://apkfasak.com/tutuapp-apk/



Hope James said...

Are you looking for the most reputed and cost-effective custom elearning development services for the best custom e learning services? You need not to go far as Acadecraft is giving it's 100% to provide best service in a lowest possible time. We have an expanded service different custom elearning course development

Laura Bush said...

wow wonderful post..I am very much interested in this kind of blogs.this is truly helpful. Thank you so much for this interesting blog. online assignment solutions

Roman Davis said...

I appreciate your topic because every school is facing many problems due to lack of grants and all the students are feeling new furniture and desks for sitting during the study period. Assignment writing services

joker said...

THIS WAR OF MINE: FINAL CUT

joker said...

Slotxogame88

joker said...


สมัครสมาชิกใหม่รับ โบนัส 50%

joker said...

Slotxo เติมเงินวอเล็ต

joker said...

superslot เครดิตฟรี50

joker said...

Skylanders Ring of Heroes

joker said...

สล้อตทางเข้า

joker said...

สล็อต

joker said...

slotออนไลน์

joker said...

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

joker said...

สล็อตjoker ออโต้

joker said...

pg slot auto

Faith Center said...

Writing a blog post is really important for me and other. Thanks for sharing amazing tips. get one of the best Faith Center visit on our website. worship center of atlanta

yanmaneee said...

kd shoes
steph curry shoes
curry 7
steph curry shoes
lebron 18
jordan shoes
jordans
yeezys
yeezy 350
off-white

Arnold DK said...

Nice blog, Thank you for the valuable information. I am very much impressed with this one.
Looking forward to the good posts. whatsapp mod

Maverick said...

Really nice blog, it went over all the details needed to deeply understand the subject.

UAE Free Zones

Maverick said...

Wonderful content. Neat and precise rendition.

property rental Dubai