i3 (Investing in Innovation) and S.M.A.R.T. School Improvement

Update - March 1. The Office of Innovation and Improvement in the Department of Education included two important announcements in the most recent issue of its newsletter entitled The Education Innovator:

1. The priorities and application guidelines for the i3 (Investing in Innovation) Fund should be released before the end of March. (We will have an update here as soon as that happens.)

2. The Department of Education has created the Open Innovation Portal for the purpose of opening the process of education innovation to the widest audience possible and contributing to the development of a pipeline of innovation. 

The Portal is intended as an online community, engaging all stakeholders in the process of suggesting innovative ideas, making the connection with funding sources and sharing them widely.

In related news, round one Race to the Top awards should be announced in April. 40 states and the District of Columbia applied in round one. Round two applications are due in June, with awards to be announced in September.

If your District is interested in applying for the i3 Fund, it doesn't matter whether your state applied for Race to the Top or not.    

In addition to the links provided above, you will find a description of the i3 Fund (in pdf) and a related PowerPoint available at the bottom of this page.

Why should the S.M.A.R.T. Goal Process be an essential component of your District's i3 (Investing in Innovation Fund) application?

QLD's S.M.A.R.T. Goal Process is a change management system that creates a culture of ownership and shared responsibility for the continuous improvement of student learning. The process is built around the Framework for Shared Responsibility - a model wherein the entire faculty is involved in establishing focus (mission, vision, goal), engaging in reflection (analyzing data and research on best practices), and contributing to collaboration that builds coherence in curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development practices. The Framework is designed to grow leadership capacity throughout the school in a systemic and systematic way.

The most significant reason that our S.M.A.R.T. Goal Process works is that it creates a laser-like focus on the most important and essential skills that students need to master to become proficient learners. Every instructional and programmatic decision is examined to determine its efficacy in closing the goal-related gaps that are uncovered in the data anaylsis process. Teams are taught how to use specific decision-making tools and methods for eliminating ineffective programs, improving and expanding upon highly effective existing programs and strategies, and learning new best practices via multiple professional development models.

For the rest of the story, and for guidance and assistance in including S.M.A.R.T. in your application, please contact us.  Kiett Takkunen will work with you, listen carefully to your needs, and help you design a solution that will have the highest impact on student learning and strengthen your i3 application.