Selecting Courses of Action
It may be that the analyses of resources will lead to modification of the decisions to pursue particular strategies thus returning the problem solving process to Step 5.2. This may involve minor changes to decisions made or more substantial reformulation of ways to address particular shortcomings in student performance. However, before altering desired courses of improvement, the possibility that resources can be secured that would remedy particular inadequacies should be explored.
From a school’s perspective, “promising practices” are grounded in relative, not absolute considerations—relative to a school’s values, the problems and challenges it seeks to address, the burdens it must bear in putting the reform into practice, and the resources needed to implement the practice.
If answers to questions about evidence and feasibility such as those posed above in Step 5.3 are negative, considerations turn to whether these potential difficulties can be addressed and how serious the challenges are to effective implementation. The school then must decide whether resources or conditions needed can be secured and how long that would take. This inquiry leads to a decision to go forward, to modify the practice, or to search for other more feasible solutions to the problem(s) that have been identified.
From a school’s perspective, “promising practices” are grounded in relative, not absolute considerations—relative to a school’s values, the problems and challenges it seeks to address, the burdens it must bear in putting the reform into practice, and the resources needed to implement the practice.
If answers to questions about evidence and feasibility such as those posed above in Step 5.3 are negative, considerations turn to whether these potential difficulties can be addressed and how serious the challenges are to effective implementation. The school then must decide whether resources or conditions needed can be secured and how long that would take. This inquiry leads to a decision to go forward, to modify the practice, or to search for other more feasible solutions to the problem(s) that have been identified.