Revised Action Planning Template
Goal: To implement Professional Learning Communities in order to promote collaboration and communication among Teachers and Leadership as a component of Campus AYP Corrective Action Plan.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Put into action a Campus Special Education Professional Learning Community.	Lindy Davis, Principal Daryl Cameron, Asst. Principal Crystal Leiva, Teacher	November 2011-June 2012	Location for meeting, Substitute for classroom coverage	Increased communication among Special Education Teachers
Share Action Research Plan with Leadership and other schools in Texas.	Crystal Leiva	November 2011	Copies of Action Research Plan	By sharing Action Research Plan, leadership will be aware of strategies used to support AYP Corrective Action Plan
Conduct a survey among Special Education Teachers and Leadership to assess and identify prior knowledge and misconceptions of Professional Learning Communities. Include Delphi Open ended questions.	Melissa Goolsby Crystal Leiva	November 2011	Computer and web program to complete survey (Survey Monkey)	The data from the survey will be used to plan future meetings and objectives for PLC.
Apply Force Field Analysis Strategies, Delphi Method, and Normal Group Techniques to the PLC meeting on any issues that may cause resistance to change.	Crystal L. Leiva Melissa Goolsby	January 2012	Chart Paper Post it Notes Paper Pencil	The end result will be group consensus regarding needed changes.
Discuss results of survey with school leadership	Crystal Leiva	December 2011	Computer and web program to analyze survey results	Allow development of goals for PLC
Assist in data analysis from Instructional Focus Meetings	Amy Norwood Melissa Goolsby Crystal Leiva	November 2011-May 2012	Data Disaggregation Table and DMAC web based software	Data analysis will assist in planning, direction and goals for PLC.
Explore ways to implement existing technology and explore new technology for the Special Education Students	Joseph Lavendar Lindy Davis Crystal Leiva	February 2012	Computer	Technology will increase modalities to deliver instruction to differentiate instruction.
Explore ways to increase opportunities for Special Education Students inclusion in the regular education classroom	Crystal Leiva	March 2012	Computer and search engine	Lesson observation checklist from PDAS can be used to see if learning styles are being addressed.
Present Book review on Professional Learning Communities at Work: Best Practices for Enhancing Student Achievement	Crystal Leiva	December 2011	Computer, Microsoft PowerPoint, and copy of book	Teachers and leadership can use results to guide discussions and goals for PLC meetings.
The PLC will complete Computer Based Standardized IEP training.	Crystal Leiva	March 2012	Computer Internet Website Address Printer	Teachers will take an exam at the end of training and receive a certificate.
The PLC will explore uses of common accommodation and modifications in Reading, Math, and Language/Writing in order to provide more focused aligned instruction on areas of needed improvement for the students with special needs with the purpose of improving STAAR scores.	Lindy Davis Melissa Gooslby Daryl Cameron Crystal Leiva PLC	December 2012	STAAR testing manual Computer	Checklists, Lesson Plans, and TEKS Verification Documents can be used to see if goals are being met.
The PLC will vertically align their curriculum in Reading, Math, and Language/Writing using CSCOPE in order to provide more focused instruction on areas of needed improvement for the students with special needs with the purpose of improving STAAR scores.	Lindy Davis Melissa Gooslby Daryl Cameron Crystal Leiva PLC	December 2012	STAAR testing manual Computer Vertical Alignment Documents CSCOPE	Checklists, Lesson Plans, CSCOPE assessments and TEKS Verification Documents can be used to see if goals are being met.
The PLC will explore ways to collaborate and communicate with General Education Students in order to assist mainstream students.	Lindy Davis Melissa Gooslby Daryl Cameron Crystal Leiva PLC	May 2012	Computer Survey	Regular meetings will lead to student success in mainstream classes.
The PLC will use non-negotiable CSCOPE curriculum and collaborate with General Education teacher to help differentiate the CSCOPE curriculum for high risk and special education students.	Lindy Davis Daryl Cameron Melissa Gooslby Daryl Cameron Crystal Leiva PLC General Education Teachers	October 2012	CSCOPE	Lesson Plans Planning meeting notes CSCOPE assessmets

Week 5 Reflections

     Conducting action research involves a transformation of a school into a learning institution or community.  Member of the learning community reflect on the strengths, weaknesses, and areas of needed improvement within the organization.  This allows teachers and administrators to work together and develop a common goal.  Team members look at the school and district in its entirety, instead of just focusing on their classroom or posit ion in the school.  Schools can be very one dimensional.  Teacher focus so hard on their classroom and job duties, that they sometime forget that the school is a learning community (Dana, 2009, p.3).

     Proper reflection allows a leader to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in their organization.  No organization is perfect. Proper refection will allow the leader to honestly and objectively look at the performance of the organization.  Reflection allows the leader to take a step back from the daily duties and refocus on the mission and vision of the organization.  It also allows the leader to set an example for their workers. Reflection is an important aspect of action research. Reflection allow the leader to identify an area of need. In many situations, proper reflection can be challenging.  Identifying an area of need can be seen as a weakness in the organization.  However, it is important to the action research process. It is also vital that the individual only target a specific area (Martin, Wright, Danzig, Richard, & Brown, 2005, p. 104).  

  Based on my reflections and wonderings, my plan will be to implement Professional Learning Communities in order to promote collaboration and communication among Special Education Teachers to improve AYP rating.  I will form a Special Education Professional Learning Community.  The members will include Special Education Teachers, members from the leadership team, and possibly interventionist.  We will focus on ways to improve the STAAR testing ratings and look over the new STAAR testing requirements.  The rest of the details need to be worked out with my school site supervisor. That is all we have discussed thus far.

  In order to sustain impovement, three strategies that can be used are Force Field Analysis, Delphi Method, and/or Normal Group Technique.     Kert Lewin's Force Field Analysis states, "That in order for change to occur, the driving forces for the change must exceed the resisting forces against the change" (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs, 2010).  In order to apply this theory, it is important to identify the different forces for and against the change.  The quantity of the driving force as well as its strength should be defined.  The next step will be to find ways to decrease the restraining forces and increasing the driving forces.  Force Field Analysis allows the organization to reflect on their current situation and develop various techniques to motivate the change process.

     The Delphi Method is a strategy for developing a group consensus that consists of several rounds.  A facilitator develops a survey with open ended questions.  The participants complete the survey then the facilitator compiles the answers and the items are reviewed again by the participants (Harris et al., 2010).  This process is continued until the group reaches more of a consensus.  This method allows every participant to have input.  Often in face to face type meetings, participants are afraid to express their true opinion.  The anonymity allows participants to truly voice concerns and ideas and not be overlooked or persuaded by dominant personalities.  The group can focus on the problem and prioritize.  A strong nonbiased group facilitator is imperative to the success of this method.  

     According to Harris, Edmonson, and Combs (2010), "Normal Group Technique is another way to examine school improvement with an eye on future needs of the school that builds consensus and leads to genuine school improvement" (p. 96). Normal Group Technique is like the Delphi method because a facilitator is needed.  Normal Group Technique is a five step process conducted in small groups.  This theory makes group members less reluctant to suggest ideas and personalities that hesitate to create conflict in groups.  Facilitators need to provide adequate time of Normal Group Technique to allow members to generate ideas and set priorities.

Bibliography

Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge. The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools. 8 Steps From Analysis to Action. Larchmount, NY: Eye on Education.

Martin, G., Wright, W., Danzig, A., Richard, F., & Brown, F. (2005). School Leader Internship. Developing, Monitoring and Evaluating Your Leadership Experience. Larchmont, NY: Eye On Education.

Week 4

Action Planning Template
Goal: To implement Professional Learning Communities in order to promote collaboration and communication among Teachers and Leadership as a component of Campus AYP Corrective Action Plan.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Put into action a Campus Special Education Professional Learning Community.		November 2011-June 2012	Location for meeting, Substitute for classroom coverage	Increased communication among Special Education Teachers
Share Action Research Plan with Leadership and other schools in Texas.		November 2011	Copies of Action Research Plan	By sharing Action Research Plan, leadership will be aware of strategies used to support AYP Corrective Action Plan
Conduct a survey among Special Education Teachers and Leadership to assess and identify prior knowledge and misconceptions of Professional Learning Communities. Include Delphi Open ended questions.		November 2011	Computer and web program to complete survey (Survey Monkey)	The data from the survey will be used to plan future meetings and objectives for PLC.
Apply Force Field Analysis Strategies, Delphi Method, and Normal Group Techniques to the PLC meeting on any issues that may cause resistance to change.		January 2012	Chart Paper Post it Notes Paper Pencil	The end result will be group consensus regarding needed changes.
Discuss results of survey with school leadership		December 2011	Computer and web program to analyze survey results	Allow development of goals for PLC
Assist in data analysis from Instructional Focus Meetings		November 2011-May 2012	Data Disaggregation Table and DMAC web based software	Data analysis will assist in planning, direction and goals for PLC.
Explore ways to implement existing technology and explore new technology for the Special Education Students		February 2012	Computer	Technology will increase modalities to deliver instruction to differentiate instruction.
Explore ways to increase opportunities for Special Education Students inclusion in the regular education classroom		March 2012	Computer and search engine	Lesson observation checklist from PDAS can be used to see if learning styles are being addressed.
Present Book review on Professional Learning Communities at Work: Best Practices for Enhancing Student Achievement		December 2011	Computer, Microsoft PowerPoint, and copy of book	Teachers and leadership can use results to guide discussions and goals for PLC meetings.
The PLC will explore uses of common accommodation and modifications in Reading, Math, and Language/Writing in order to provide more focused aligned instruction on areas of needed improvement for the students with special needs with the purpose of improving STAAR scores.		December 2012	STAAR testing manual Computer	Checklists, Lesson Plans, and TEKS Verification Documents can be used to see if goals are being met.
The PLC will vertically align their curriculum in Reading, Math, and Language/Writing in order to provide more focused instruction on areas of needed improvement for the students with special needs with the purpose of improving STAAR scores.		December 2012	STAAR testing manual Computer Vertical Alignment Documents	Checklists, Lesson Plans, and TEKS Verification Documents can be used to see if goals are being met.
The PLC will explore ways to collaborate and communicate with General Education Students in order to assist mainstream students.		May 2012	Computer Survey	Regular meetings will lead to student success in mainstream classes.

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)