Scenario Planning is a method to prepare for a range of plausible futures based on a set of different “uncertainties.” This video provides an overview of scenario planning and outlines an eight step process to create a set of scenarios to use in responding to an immediate crisis as well as for long term planning.

This document helps Regional Comprehensive Center, and state and local education agencies think through both urgent and long-term needs and strategies to reform systems as they recover from operational disruptions, such as COVID-19. Annotated lists of resources and key discussion questions are provided to probe thinking, support planning, and encourage users to improve overall systems and structures as a result of the disruption. The authors include links to a handful of companion tools that users can incorporate into their work recovering and moving forward.

This document outlines two important things to consider as students return to school: learning considerations for individual students and student groups; and legal considerations for meeting the needs of students, including those with disabilities as indicated by IDEA. The authors flag important aspects as state education agencies (SEAs) cope with a continuity of equitable learning opportunities, including services deliver in person, through distance learning, and via blended approaches.

This brief from Region 8 Comprehensive Center summarizes findings on how states provide access to early learning standards. The author describes strategies for using and aligning their state early learning standards.

As schools prepare to reopen, district and school leaders must understand the socioemotional needs of the school community in order to plan for a safe, supportive, and equitable learning environment. These four surveys are designed to get feedback from educators, students, caregivers, and school counselors about their experience with online learning/teaching during COVID-19 related school closures. The surveys ask about concerns over school reopening, communication from school/districts, mixed modes of learning (in-person and virtual), readiness to learn, readiness to support students, and the training and resources needed. The surveys each take ~ 10-15 minutes to complete, and contain closed- and open-ended questions that can generate summary scores as well as qualitative responses that can be used in the planning process.

During this hour-long session, experts from Bellwether Education Partners' Strategic and Academic Advising groups introduced frameworks and related tools they have been using to support scenario planning for the return to school throughout the nation. Topics include a review of the challenges that leaders have faced due to COVID-19, the questions leaders are considering as they decide which scenarios to deploy, and recommended frameworks and best practices for this kind of planning. This program is the first in a two-part series.

This set of 13 slides summarizes a webinar on the anticipated impact of economic turmoil from the coronavirus epidemic on public education, particularly on district and state funds. The author focuses on positive steps that states can take, including strategies for communications, funding, and personnel.

Strategic Performance Management (SPM) is a multistep process that guides an organization’s leadership in designing and revising a system of strategic performance management. This document outlines the technique of the strategic communication lens, used to signal opportunities to disseminate or gather input, discuss concepts, and increase understanding. Strategic communication practices can be used throughout the SPM process to strengthen external and internal engagement and collaboration.

This document describes the work of the Building State Capacity and Productivity Center (BSCP) Center as they guided three SEAs, a branch within an SEA, an insular area public school system, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission in the four components of the Strategic Performance Management (SPM) process applied to school improvement efforts. The authors outline strategies implemented and lessons learned and conclude with a discussion of the future of SPM.

This guide helps teams identify and implement a combination of short- and long-term educator talent management strategies to create comprehensive special education teacher shortage solutions that address local context and needs.