1. Developing & Refining a Theory of Action

2. Center on School Turnaround at WestEd

3. Define Theory of Action
Webinar Agenda
Define Theory of Action
Develop/refine the foundation of your TOA for supporting CSI and TSI schools
Discuss how to turn a TOA into a logic model
Discuss next steps for August 16/17

4. Theory of Action/ Theory of Change
TOC maps out why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context.
Relationship between the target population, strategies, and desired impact
If your SEA does A, B, and C, then LEAs will do R, S, T, which will result in X, Y, Z for students.
Who is the target of the program or policy (e.g. LEAs, schools, students)?
What are the main goals of the program or policy?
What are the major strategies and activities associated with the program or policy?

5. Ground your TOA in your Vision
What is your vision for CSI and TSI schools?
What do you want to achieve in your CSI and TSI schools?
What role does your SEA want to play in supporting CSI and TSI schools?
What departments within the SEA are involved or do you want to be involved?
What role do you want LEAs to play in supporting CSI and TSI schools?
Given this context, how can we achieve our vision?

6. Basics of a Theory of Change
Do (Strategies)
Get (Results)

7. Start with your desired results
Backwards Design
Start with your desired results
Then describe the strategies that will get you there

8. Reflection Questions Who is my program/initiative/approach targeting?
What impact is the program expecting to achieve in the long-term?
What strategies/activities will you use to make these results happen? Will these vary based on school/district performance?
What evidence do you have that this change can happen as a result of your approach?
Why do you believe that this change can happen as a result of your program?

9. Theory of Action/ Theory of Change
TOC maps out why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context.
Relationship between the target population, strategies, and desired impact
If your SEA does A, B, and C, then LEAs will do R, S, T, which will result in X, Y, Z for students.
Who is the target of the program or policy (e.g. LEAs, schools, students)?
What are the main goals of the program or policy?
What are the major strategies and activities associated with the program or policy?

10. CST TOA
IF we increase the capacity of RCCs, SEAs, and LEAs to identify, adopt, and sustain evidence-based practices that ensure equity and drive system change through leadership, talent development, instructional transformation, and culture shift---
THEN we will help SEAs and LEAs engage schools in dramatic turnaround efforts that are sustained by continuous improvement to increase student achievement, graduation, and college and career success and close the achievement gap.

11. Colorado District and School Support TOA
If we...
foster key conditions and research-based turnaround principles...
diagnose and structure focused improvement planning...
align and differentiate, and leverage the allocation of all funds to ensure equity and maximize impact...
use select data and indicators to track and monitor progress...
actively support new and growing turnaround talent development programs...
pursue bold and urgent interventions and actions with schools and districts...
Then...
our lowest-performing districts and schools will become the highest-performing districts and schools as measured by the State Performance Frameworks.

12. SEA TOA for Cross-Agency Collaboration
If SEA develops a more collaborative culture
then we will deepen our expertise across all divisions.
If we deepen our expertise across all divisions,
then we will deliver service and support that is better integrated and coordinated.
If we deliver service and support that is integrated and well-coordinated,
then educators will improve their effectiveness.
If educators improve their effectiveness,
then student performance will improve.
SUCCESS

13. SEA District and School Turnaround TOA
If SEA supports districts to use a cycle of continuous improvement to turnaround their lowest performing schools….
Then districts will strengthen the district systems of support necessary to continuously improve district and school performance.

14. Reflect on your TOA/TOC
Are we targeting who we want to target?
Do stakeholders have a shared definition of the desired results?
Did we examine our assumptions about what it takes to achieve those results?
Did we examine research and practice to choose our strategies?
Did we consider capacity when determining our strategies?
Does the TOA clearly show the relationship of strategies to results? Are these connections valid?
How does my TOA fit with my State System of Support?

15. Differentiated System of Support
May include state and federal programs
Intensive support for CSI and TSI schools
May have different approach for higher performing schools

16. TOA Logic Model TOA to Logic Model Inputs Outputs Outcomes Assumptions
External Factors
TOA
Strategies
Results

17. Visual representation of the program and its desired outcomes
Logic Model
Visual representation of the program and its desired outcomes
Demonstrates the “if-then” relationships between elements of a program
Many different models from complicated to simple!

19. Usually the quantity and/or quality of the activities.
Outputs
What does the approach create as a result of the activities and strategies?
Usually the quantity and/or quality of the activities.

20. Direct Outcomes
Long-Changes in proficiency, skill
Medium-Changes in behavior
Short term-Changes in knowledge, attitude
Expected observable and measurable results that may occur directly from the strategies

21. Indirect Program Outcomes
Influenced by outside factors
Contribution to broad goals
Longer term
Expected observable and measurable results that may occur indirectly from the strategies

22. Next Steps Develop/refine your TOA for supporting CSI and TSI schools
Meet with colleagues to discuss and refine the TOA
Reflect on the relationship between your TOA and your State System of Support
Come prepared to share a draft TOA (and logic model if you would like)