Problem Solving Process District Problem Solving Model GOAL

Problem Solving Process

District Problem Solving Model • GOAL: Ensure that all buildings within the Wichita Public Schools use a single problem solving model to integrate academic and behavior instruction and intervention. • Barriers that require Action Plans 1. Understanding the model and opportunity to see it work, when to use it, and knowing benefits 2. Lack of clear expectations for use and accountability for implementation

Plan ahead for change. Analyze and predict the results. Do Do it. Execute the plan, implement changes taking small steps in controlled circumstances. ACT Check Monitor and study the results. Track implementation impact and engage in performance improvement dialogue. (Adjust, Continue, Transition) A decision point. Take action to standardize or improve the process. Develop improvement hypothesis. Secure the improvement.

4 Step Problem Solving • Use the 4 Step Problem Solving Process when making decisions related to a) changing someone else’s behavior; b) students; and/or c) instructional decisions. – What do we want students to learn? – How will we know when they have learned? – What will we do when they don’t learn? – What will we do when they have learned?

4 Step Problem Solving Plan – Create or revise the plan • Identify the problem and write it as a question. • Craft a desired goal statement including how it will be measured. • Determine the current level of performance, the desired target performance, peer performance, and gap analysis. • Brainstorm interventions & hypotheses. • Determine strongest alignment to desired goal statement. • Identify who will be involved, what action will be taken, the timeline for implementation and follow up. • Determine implementation support. ACT – Adjust, Continue, Transition • Action based upon learning. • Reconvene team to develop follow up accountability plan. • Brainstorm strategies to reduce or eliminate obstacles. • Develop plans for reducing obstacles. Start Plan What do we want students to know and be able to do? ACT - Adjust, Continue, Transition What do we need to do differently? Do What are we doing to ensure success? Check How do we know we are meeting the desired goal? Do – Carry out the plan • Support implementation with ongoing professional development. • Provide ongoing implementation feedback. • Execute the plan as identified by who will be involved, the action to be taken, and the timeline for implementation and follow up. Check – Check the status of the plan • Frequently collect data. • Determine the response to the intervention. • Make documented adjustments based on data throughout the implementation timeline as necessary. • Determine why the desired goal statement was or was not met.

4 Step Problem Solving Plan – Create or revise the plan • Identify the problem and write it as a question. • Craft a desired goal statement including how it will be measured. • Determine the current level of performance, the desired target performance, peer performance, and gap analysis. • Brainstorm interventions & hypotheses. • Determine strongest alignment to desired goal statement. • Identify who will be involved, what action will be taken, the timeline for implementation and follow up. • Determine implementation support. ACT – Adjust, Continue, Transition • Action based upon learning. • Reconvene team to develop follow up accountability plan. • Brainstorm strategies to reduce or eliminate obstacles. • Develop plans for reducing obstacles. Start Plan What do we want students to know and be able to do? ACT - Adjust, Continue, Transition What do we need to do differently? Do What are we doing to ensure success? Check How do we know we are meeting the desired goal? Do – Carry out the plan • Support implementation with ongoing professional development. • Provide ongoing implementation feedback. • Execute the plan as identified by who will be involved, the action to be taken, and the timeline for implementation and follow up. Check – Check the status of the plan • Frequently collect data. • Determine the response to the intervention. • Make documented adjustments based on data throughout the implementation timeline as necessary. • Determine why the desired goal statement was or was not met.

4 Step Problem Solving Application Plan What do we want students to know and be able to do? Do What are we doing to ensure success? ACT Check Adjust, Continue, Transition What do we need to do differently? How do we know we are meeting the desired goal?

4 Step Problem Solving Problem: What can we do to improve student • Identify the problem and write it as a question. • Craft a desired goal statement including how it will be measured. • Determine the current level of performance, the desired target performance, peer performance, and gap analysis. • Brainstorm interventions & hypotheses. • Determine strongest alignment to desired goal statement. • Identify who will be involved, what action will be taken, the timeline for implementation and follow up. • Determine implementation support. attendance? Desired Goal & Measurement: Reduce Plan What do we want students to know and be able to do? student chronic absenteeism to below 10% by spring break. Current performance: 20% chronically absent. Desired target: 10% or less chronically absent. Peers: 10% chronically absent. Gap: 10 -15% Possible Interventions & hypotheses: Assembly for student and parents (educate community), communication to community venues (educate community), school-wide goal w/ student follow up (importance of work ethic and change behavior). Strongest alignment: School-wide goal made public and tracked weekly with weekly follow up on chronically absent students. Who: All staff and student groups. What action: Set expectation, information to staff, students, and parents/guardians. Weekly announcement and data throughout school. Student rewards. (use Action Plan template) Timeline: Less than 10% chronically absent by March 2012. Follow up: Week after spring break 2012 Needed support: Communication with parents/guardians, and community.

4 Step Problem Solving Problem: What can we do to improve • Support implementation with ongoing professional development. • Provided ongoing implementation feedback. • Execute the plan as identified by who will be involved, the action to be taken, and the timeline for implementation and follow up. Do What are we doing to ensure success? student attendance? Desired Goal & Measurement: Reduce student chronic absenteeism to below 10% by spring break. Current performance: 20% chronically absent. Desired target: 10% or less chronically absent. Peers: 10% chronically absent. Gap: 10 -15% Goal/Action alignment: School-wide goal made public and tracked weekly with weekly follow up on chronically absent students. Who: All staff and student groups. What action: Set expectation, information to staff, students, and parents/guardians. Weekly announcement and data throughout school. Student rewards. Timeline: Less than 10% chronically absent by March 2012. Follow up: Week after spring break 2012 Needed support: Communication with parents/guardians, and community.

4 Step Problem Solving Problem: What can we do to improve • Frequently collect data. • Determine the response to the intervention. • Make documented adjustments based on data throughout the implementation timeline as necessary. • Determine why the desired goal statement was or was not met. Check How do we know we are meeting the desired goal? student attendance? Desired Goal & Measurement: Reduce student chronic absenteeism to below 10% by spring break. Current performance: 20% chronically absent. Desired target: 10% or less chronically absent. Peers: 10% chronically absent. Gap: 10 -15% Goal/Action alignment: School-wide goal made public and tracked weekly with weekly follow up on chronically absent students. Who: All staff and student groups. What action: Set expectation, information to staff, students, and parents/guardians. Weekly announcement and data throughout school. Student rewards. Timeline: Less than 10% chronically absent by March 2012. Follow up: Week after spring break 2012 Needed support: Communication with parents/guardians, and community. Data collection: Feedback from staff, students, parents/guardians; Weekly attendance by school, grade, class.

4 Step Problem Solving Problem: What can we do to improve • Reconvene team to develop follow up accountability plan. • Brainstorm strategies to reduce or eliminate obstacles. • Develop plans for reducing obstacles. ACT Adjust, Continue, Transition What do we need to do differently? student attendance? Desired Goal & Measurement: Reduce student chronic absenteeism to below 10% by spring break. Current performance: 20% chronically absent. Desired target: 10% or less chronically absent. Peers: 10% chronically absent. Gap: 10 -15% Goal/Action alignment: School-wide goal made public and tracked weekly with weekly follow up on chronically absent students. Identify obstacles: Identification based on data throughout initial problem solving cycle. Brainstorm strategies: Brainstorm strategies for reducing or eliminating obstacles. Needed support: Adjust based on data analysis. Data collection: Feedback from staff, students, parents/guardians; Weekly attendance by school, grade, class.

4 Step Problem Solving Action Plan Template Question: Desired goal statement and measurement: Plan and Do Who (By name and position) What Action (In detail, name specific actions to be taken) ACT Check Data Collection By When & Frequency (Actual dates) (In detail, specific data points - success indicators) Adjust, Continue, Transition Results (What does the data indicate? ) Follow-up & Next Steps (Actual dates & decisions throughout problem solving cycle)