Phases of Expected Timeline

Contact

October - November

  • Prospective partner school completes initial online form establishing school’s primary contact
  • Primary contact receives information packet including background information about the Tarrant
  • Institute for Innovative Education and a Partner School Summary template

Exploratory

October - November

  • School leadership reviews information packet and determines interest in a partnership;
  • Primary school contact submits completed Partner School Summary;
  • Primary contact arranges Google Hangout with Tarrant Institute leadership, building principal and other key
  • school leaders to discuss the prospect of a partnership;
  • School leadership recruits key faculty to represent faculty as a whole on a Partnership Leadership Team. Leadership recruits other key staff to team, such as Technology Integration Specialists and others who play a central role in guiding professional development and school improvement. It is common, and often preferred, to build on an existing leadership team if an effective one already exists;
  • Leadership Team meets to discuss partnership opportunities, understand the commitment involved, and gauge faculty interest.

Partnership

March onwards, for up to three years

  • The Tarrant Institute and the school leadership team signs an MOU reflecting the agreed-upon professional development strategy;
  • The Tarrant Institute and the leadership team begins implementing the partnership plan.

Reflection and Revision

March onwards, for up to three years

  • The leadership team, in consultation with the Tarrant Institute, guides ongoing improvements to the plan and responds promptly to emerging needs and concerns of faculty, leadership and the Tarrant Institute;
  • In January and February of each implementation year, the leadership team considers modifying the MOU for the next school year;
  • By March of each implementation year, partnership signs revised MOU or dissolves partnership.

Key Dates to Consider

March onwards, for up to three years

  • Deadline for reconciling plan with the school’s budget proposal for next fiscal year (November-December)
  • Committing contract and other professional development funds to upcoming Middle Grades Institute (December-January)
  • MOU signed in time to address the plan’s calendar and scheduling implications (February-March)