Step 1: Determine District Readiness
Establish a district leadership team
Establish a leadership team that will collaborate with you in making decisions to:
- Promote and integrate connected learning system wide
- Connect with other networks and online communities of practice beyond the district
- Deepen collaboration, innovation, and professional learning
- Share responsibility for sustained improvement
A leadership team that engages a range of education stakeholders and distributes leadership among members will be most helpful. Team members should include the superintendent or designee; central office staff; school administrators; teacher leaders; and, where appropriate, community members, parents, and/or students.
Collect existing district plans
Collect existing district plans (e.g., continuous improvement plans; professional development plans; technology plans; strategic leadership plans; teacher evaluation process; and any other plans, processes, and programs that involve substantive professional learning in order to meet district goals), and review them to ensure that they reflect current high-priority needs. Identify alignment of plans.
Assess district capacity for professional learning
Professional Learning Readiness
Self-Assessment Tool
This tool helps districts assess their capacity for effective, comprehensive professional learning.
It is recommended that this tool be used by a district team responsible for professional learning and/or continuous improvement planning.