Before taking the KEYS 2.0 survey, a school community should determine whether or not it is ready to undertake the initiative.

KEYS 2.0 is not a “quick fix” for raising student achievement. The initiative entails the application of a basic problem-solving process that includes:

1. Assessment to identify the symptoms.
2. Analysis and data interpretation to seek the root causes of the problem.
3. Essential conversations to reach understanding and consensus that will lead to a plan or strategy.
4. Implementation of the action plan that includes professional development.
5. Monitoring and evaluation to assess progress made and to modify plans as necessary.
6. Staff development.

KEYS 2.0, in short, is part of an action research cycle that school communities lead to achieve and sustain continuous improvement. School readiness for reform is critical to the long-term success of KEYS.

All stakeholders in the school must recognize the significant commitment required for successful implementation of KEYS. Some considerations for determining readiness include:

The school’s motivation for completing the survey. Is the motivation simply curiosity about how you compare to others or a genuine interest in making improvements?

Agreement on the value of the initiative. Is there general consensus among stakeholders that the initiative is an appropriate strategy for implementing school improvement?

Availability of resources. Are there adequate resources—time, knowledge, skills, money—for reform implementation? Are there commitments for securing such resources if they are not immediately available?

Community support. Does the school have the support of and commitment for resources from key partners, including the district administration, education employee associations, parents, school board, and business community?

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