e.g. "Results indicate a high percentage of students have positive, healthy attitudes towards learning. Students also regarded their school as a safe place, felt that most students respected authority and believed the school discipline policies were applied fairly"

• Give # of people surveyed, the number that responded, specific statistics from each relevant survey question; who, when, why, and summarize the results and their implications (so what?).

• Avoid embellishing and expounding how poor and needy your school or county might be. Grants are awarded on the basis of the quality of your proposal and its potential for reform, not the depth of your poverty.

• What we want to see here is how you have analyzed data to show needs in student achievement for your various sub-groups, and needs in curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, parent and community development, etc.

Achievement/Participation Rates

• Increase from what to what?
• Show how the increases will move from a lower figure/percentage to a higher figure/ percentage; show the time frame (month and year).
• If you cite decreases, show from what to what.
• Name specific tests/instruments/ programs used or to be used.
• Whenever you give a percentage, show the number also—e.g. 5% (10).
• What tests? Grades?
• What subjects/areas?
• What assessments?

e.g. "We will have increased learning time for all students"

• Specify how much time and when.
• Which students will get what?

e.g. "There will be an increase of student participation in school activities over the year"

• From what to what?
• Which activities?
• Which students?

e.g. "We need to increase teachers’ repertoire of teaching strategies with more emphasis on student-teacher rather than teacher-directed learning"

• Name the specific student-centered strategies.
• Which students will focus on what?

e.g. "Summer conferences, specific teacher training for the subject/skill areas initiatives and a host of demonstrations, modeling and on-site assistance is included"

• Name each component, specific topics, names of presenters, target population for each component by grade level and subject area; give specific schedule of training.

e.g. "In addition, they will provide reinforcement training and coaching for experienced teachers annually"

• State the specific details of the training, who will be targeted, number of teachers, number of days of training, topics of training.

• Name the specific tasks/activities/functions to be done or provided, who will do them, & their specific expected effects. Give dates.

• What skills?
• What subjects?
• What assignments?
• Where?
• How?
• By whom? Grades?
• Which students?
• So what?

e.g. "Surveys (quantitative) and unobtrusive measures (qualitative) will be used to analyze the extent and quality of implementation along with any results"

• How many surveys?
• What will they focus on?
• To whom and to how many people will they be administered?
• Who will do it, when, why?
• How will results be reported, used?

e.g. "Our action plan will include a comprehensive annual evaluation of schoolwide data to determine progress and modifications needed"

• Name the elements of the plan, the specific instruments and methodology to be used; who will do it, when?

e.g. "There will be an increase of student participation in school activities over the year"

• From what to what?
• Which activities?
• Which students?

e.g. "XX consultants will assist us in implementing a variety of research-based school reform initiatives to strengthen our goals"

• Who?
• What specifically will they do? Dates?
• What is the schedule of workshops, conferences, programs? Follow up?

e.g. "Our superintendent has pledged his support for our school’s reform movement"

• What resources will he or she provide?
• What’s the nature of the support? Describe.

e.g. "Staff development, monitoring, model teaching, and research are among the many skills offered by the central office staff"

• What is the specific schedule of who will do what, when?
• What frequency, intensity, duration?

e.g. "We need to involve parents and utilize community resources more in the education of children at all grade levels"

• Name the community resources; explain the specific ways in which you want to use the parents; how many parents will be required for this plan?

e.g. "The family support team will meet regularly to plan and implement creative strategies for getting more parents and community members involved"

• What is the composition of the team, how many times will they meet, when, name the specific strategies, which groups will be targeted, how, numbers of parents?