54+ SAMPLE School Action Plan

What Is a School Action Plan?

A school action plan is a comprehensive plan that outlines concrete action steps aimed at accomplishing a school’s objective. The specific objectives may vary depending on the needs of each school but generally, its overall goal is to promote a school development plan and school improvement plan. 

According to data published by Education Week, there are 130,930 public and private K-12 schools in the United States. Of the total number, 87,498 are elementary schools and 26,727 are secondary schools. 

Examples of School Action Plans

Since action plans are quite broad in their definition, there can be several types of school action plans and each one can meet different objectives. Whether the concern revolves around safety and security or physical and mental health, a good and effective action plan is tailored to meet targeted school objectives. The following examples below describe just some common types of school action plans.    

Improvement Plan. Action plans usually predicate a need for change or modification. In the context of a school action plan, improvement or positive change is generally the goal. There may be some issues that need to be addressed or changes that need to be implemented by the school. An improvement daily action plan lays out the strategies and concrete plans that can help resolve these issues. School administrators, management, department heads or the board of trustees are typically tasked with crafting these kinds of plans. The goals or objectives of school improvement plans can range from building maintenance, school policy, to the educational system and curriculum itself. In the most general sense, the plan’s overarching purpose is to promote positive change and advance progress and development in the system and operation of the school. Leadership Plan. Another kind of school action plan is targeted at internal leadership. Whether it is to address leadership gaps in the institution, promote a more united leadership agenda or develop the abilities of student leaders, a school or university cannot function without an effective leadership at the helm. Leaders do not only refer to school heads, district superintendents or administrators; teachers and student body leaders are front runners in their own right as well. The value of leadership is basic and fundamental in any educational institution. Thus, there must be a clear directive as to the kind of leadership brand the school promotes. A school leadership development plan should be able to promote key values such as unity, responsibility, excellence, and integrity not just to the student body but to the entire school community. Health and Well-Being Plan. The health of a student population is an important predictive factor in the successful operation of a school. All school administrators and educators all want their pupils to have a sound mind and body. However, overall well-being is not only focused on the physical and physiological, but includes mental, intellectual, relational and emotional health as well. Students are able to perform and function better academically when their health is being taken care of. Achieving this, of course, requires the participation of everyone- especially teachers and parents. Thus, it is important that all areas of health must be taken into account for each student and for the whole academic community. Action plans that promote student health can be expressed in different ways and means- regular health classes, mental health programs, phyusical education, guidance counseling and even age-approprioate sex education for school children. Safety and Emergency Plan. One of the most important types of action plan a school should have is a safety and emergency action plan. Apart from learning and education, the number one concern of parents is the safety and security of their children in school. The fact that there have been dozens of school-related shootings and attacks in the past years cannot be ignored. Student casualties and injuries are some of the most tragic and unfortunate circumstances that have haunted academic communities directly affected by the attacks. To address this, all schools, regardless of level, should have a safety plan and emergency plan to prepare for any potential attack or assault on their student population. It cannot be stressed enough that measures must be in place to prevent and counter this because what’s at stake are the lives of students, educators, and everyone in the academic community.

Tips for Crafting a School Action Plan

Depending on the type of school action plan you are strategic planning to create, there can be many ways to improve its content and presentation. If you are tasked to draft a school action plan, keep in mind the following tips for a more impactful and fruitful action plan.  

Ensure it is student-centered. Any school action plan should have the interest of the student body at its core. A school is essentially nothing without the students it serves. Therefore, it only makes sense that an action plan should have the safety and well-being of their students as the top priority. Whether it is an emergency evacuation action plan or an educational remediation plan program, any strategy or concrete action must promote what’s best for the entire student body. How can this be achieved? It must be evident in the policies and guidelines that are contained in the school action plan. Students are the top priority but that does not mean the interests of faculty members, employees, external partners, and other stakeholders are not taken into consideration as well. So when crafting an action plan, you must be able to strike a balance or compromise that promotes the interests of the common good. Create a multi-faceted plan. To create a more enriching and constructive school action plan, it must be multifaceted or multi-dimensional. What this basically means is that your action plan should be able to appreciate and promote the complexities and dynamism of a complex educational system. In other words, an educational institution has multiple layers and players that all contribute to the whole. A school action plan with a one-track mind or a one-dimensional approach would be limited or hollow. An effective plan covers all aspects and recognizes all stakeholders. From students, school administrators, instructors, parents to non-teaching staff and employees, all these different stakeholders must be represented or at least given acknowledgement and consideration. With a multi-faceted approach, an action plan is more profound, comprehensive and enriching. Incorporate core values and principles. Another tip to keep in mind when drafting a school action plan, is to incorporate the school’s values into the plan. In many schools and universities, values education is integrated in the basic curriculum. The same approach must be done with regard to school action plans or strategic plans. It is important to put a premium on good values to help direct and shape the policies of an academic institution. The responsibility of forming and imparting principles to students falls on their teachers and the school. And these values must be interwoven in the decisions and policies of the school. So if you are having trouble framing or approaching your school action plan, try a values-based approach. Identify the core value statement of the school and find a way to incorporate it in your concrete plans, programs, and initiatives.

How to Create a School Action Plan

To create a school action plan, you first need to establish what kind of action plan you’re creating. But if you are short on time and need a convenient way to draft a comprehensive action plan, using a predesigned template is your best bet. Browse the wide selection of editable templates above, choose one that meets your needs, and follow the step-by-step guide below.  

Step 1: Establish the Objectives

The first step in crafting a school action plan is to set the objectives. What goals do you want to achieve with your action plan? What is the main purpose of creating one in the first place? You need to identify these needs and goals before mapping out any strategies or action plans. This section will serve not just as an introduction, but as the guiding principle as you draft and revise your school action plan. Make sure to state objectives as clearly and definitely as you can. Avoid ambiguous or vague statements and try to use specific, action-based language as much as possible.   

Step 2: Conduct an Analysis

After establishing your action plan’s objectives, the next step is offering a helpful background or analysis of your school plan. The purpose of this section is to lay the foundation for the reader to fully comprehend and appreciate your initiatives. Action plans are all about practice, but sometimes practice needs to be backed by credible theories or arguments. Both theory and practice are equally important. Ideally, readers need to have a firm grasp on the theory for them to implement it in practice. A thorough theoretical analysis can be done in various ways. One example would be the commonly-used SWOT analysis. By identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the subject matter, then better and more targeted action steps can be formulated.    

Step 3: List the Action Items 

A key section in a school action plan is obviously the action list or concrete steps to be taken. This part is directly tied to the objectives stated in the introduction. The concrete action items described here must address your school action plan’s main objectives. An important tip to remember is to use active or action-based language when coming up with initiatives and strategies. Unlike passive voice, active language helps to deliver more impact and accountability. You can list your action items in bullet points or organize them in a simple chart or table, whatever you are most comfortable with. In addition to using a proactive tone, another helpful tip is to be descriptive and specific as much as possible. Doing so can aid the reader in comprehension.        

Step 4: Set a Timeline

Once you have established your list of initiatives and action items, the next step is providing a timeline for the accomplishment of each of these action steps. Setting a timeframe is key, especially for action plans, because it sets the plans in motion. Aside from a chronological timeline chart, another key element that should also be present is a monitoring system or process. It is not enough for concrete action to be implemented, its progress should also be tracked. To establish whether or not a certain initiative or plan is worth replicating or modifying, then it should be subject to both evaluation and monitoring.   

FAQs

What is a school action plan?

It is a detailed and comprehensive plan that outlines various initiatives and strategies for a school, university or any educational institution.

How do you write a school action plan?

To write a school action plan, you need specific objectives, a thorough analysis plan, concrete steps to address the objectives and a detailed timeline to execute the action plans.

What is an action plan example?

Some specific examples would be educational curriculum modification, student exchange program, or a school improvement and development plan.

School action plans can come in different shapes and sizes. But what ultimately matters is the planning, preparation, and the timely implementation of the action plan. Browse the collection of sample templates above to customize and create your own action plan today!