A Blueprint for Action: Implementation

How to Implement

The sequence of tasks outlined below encourages an annual cycle of implementation and renewal at the school building or district level. There are just two rules: collaborate and evaluate.

A Blueprint for Action III is predicated on a "whole village" concept, a collaborative effort where all the stakeholders - Parents and Families, Teachers, Administrators, Paraprofessionals, Support Services Providers, Policy Makers, Higher Education, Business and Community Leaders, Religious Communities, and Students themselves take part. It is sustained by a commitment to accountability through formative evaluation.
Participants should be increasingly familiar with "effective schools" and other related and contemporary research. All must share the understanding that "accountability" is for improvement, not judgment. In its most basic form, accountability has two parts: defining the "currency" and "going public." "Currency" is whatever factors the groups decide to measure (test scores, attendance, parent visit frequency, etc.), and "going public" means reporting progress to the school community. Leadership will emerge in the defining of roles and group processes.

TASK 1: BUILD AWARENESS AND COMMITMENT. First, read A Blueprint For Action III. Help achieve an understanding of the purpose and objectives of the Blueprint… Become acquainted with the needs of students in your community by some form of survey and/or by reading the Blueprint… Arrange or attend meetings to introduce and discuss the Blueprint… in the context of existing plans for elevating student achievement. It has proven very effective to introduce the Blueprint… to the local school board to discuss or demonstrate the level of congruence with school district goals and objectives.
TASK 2: FORM ACTION PLANNING GROUPS. Identify or establish a group that represents all the "stakeholders" in your school communities: Students, Parents and Families, Teachers and Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Administrators, Policy Makers, Business and Community Leaders, Higher Education, Religious Communities. Invite diverse ideas to be represented with the common theme of addressing the needs of Black children. Leadership roles should emerge and be defined by the group.
TASK 3: CHOOSE GOALS AND PRIORITIES. The group should develop a long range plan. That plan should focus on the statements in A Blueprint For Action III. The plan should list goals and objectives, prioritize them, ensure the involvement of all the stakeholder groups, and commit to a simple form of evaluation with an annually renewable timetable.
TASK 4: IMPLEMENT ACTIONS AND STRATEGIES. Brainstorm activities that members of the group will carry out, collectively and individually, to achieve the goal(s) selected. Create an Action Plan that states what the group hopes to achieve, responsibilities different group members shall assume, possibilities for collaborative action, and a timeline for each activity, including reporting results.
TASK 5: MONITOR PROGRESS AND RESULTS. As the group carries out the Action Plan, monitor and document the progress of the group, subgroup, or individuals. Identify activities that were particularly effective so that they can be replicated. Share what you have reamed in a timely manner with other groups in your region and forward your ideas to the National Council on Educating Black Children. Don't overlook the opportunity to celebrate or acknowledge any and all efforts in some way.

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To obtain a printed copy of this report
And for permission to redistribute, please contact:
Elizabeth Norwood
E-mail: esnorwood@aol.com
NCEBC: National Council on Educating Black Children
P.O. Box 2293
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

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