How Can Principals Lead in the School Improvement Planning Process? Reducing Biases in Shared Decision Making

Abstract

School improvement plans are strategic documents most schools complete on an annual basis. Research on school improvement planning highlights that high-quality plans contribute to student achievement gains, but many plans are of poor quality. Principals serve in a critical role within the school improvement process. In this article, we review research on decision-making and biases to provide a set of recommendations to improve the school improvement planning process. Specifically, we highlight how a set of biases can contribute to flawed planning that reduces the likelihood that the school improvement plan will be comprehensive, strategic, and useful. We also include a set of definitions and “planning guardrails” principals can use when developing a school improvement team and facilitating the school improvement planning process.