Administrators’ Back-to-School Planning Guide
As you begin planning for what the upcoming academic year will bring, you’ll want to incorporate all the best practices and lessons learned from the previous school year that promote and prioritize student safety and success. To support you during this planning process, we’ve curated a list of our best resources and recommended solutions aligned to your goals for this upcoming school year.
Find the Right Learning Models for Success
As communities prepare to welcome back larger populations of students into the physical classroom, taking an early survey on education preferences is a great way to inform the allocation of resources. While many students will be ready to return to the brick-and-mortar classroom, others may expect a more flexible approach. Do you offer the best learning options to keep students in your district?
A customizable digital curriculum that is supported by your teaching staff can allow your school to provide in-person and virtual instruction interchangeably. Read our online curriculum guide to understand for implementation ideas and tips on how to find the best learning environment for your students.
Additionally, virtual instructional services allows for a fully accredited learning option that keeps students in your district and provides a state-certified virtual teacher. You may pay for only the course enrollments you need with post-pay billing options. Use our Virtual Learning workbook to evaluate if a virtual implementation is the best option for your school.
Establish an Academic Baseline and Provide Targeted Intervention
Some students will begin the school year with larger gaps in learning and a greater variety of learning needs than most educators have had to navigate in their teaching careers. Assessments that evaluate each student’s starting point, strengths, and weaknesses are essential for learning.
An adaptive diagnostic assessment can work to understand each student’s specific competencies and skill gaps regardless of grade level. It also meets students where they are by automatically creating an individualized learning playlist for each student. Review our step-by-step guide to help develop your own personalized learning plan.
Identify Essential On-Grade Concepts and Skills
As students return to the classroom, make sure you have the right tools to ensure they are still achieving grade-level mastery. Using a formative assessment software can provide meaningful practice to build proficiency with embedded high-stakes test preparation. Use this formative assessment workbook to plan for effective, data-driven instruction.
Offer Opportunities to Recover Missing Credits
The need for credit recovery for secondary learners has already begun to rise and experts project that it will continue to increase in the coming school year. Use our Credit Recovery Program Planning Worksheet to determine how you can set up or enhance your current offerings for those in need. Consider solutions that offer proven curriculum for credit or unit recovery, and that can be paired with a state-certified teacher.
Focus on Reading Foundations
It’s a well-known fact that a strong foundation in literacy is key to future academic success in any subject. Leverage our Reading & Literacy workbook for even more support in ensuring that students are on track to become successful and lifelong readers.
Know Your Way Around Federal Funding
The federal funding landscape can be daunting to navigate. Our Crosswalk for Federal Funding and Allowable Uses can help state and local education agencies align their priorities to federal funding streams. Learn about how funding can be used and the nuances of each act. Additionally, Edmentum's Federal Funding Toolkit is packed with valuable insights, guides, and resources designed to help educators secure the federal funding needed to make a lasting impact.
Don’t forget to visit our Back to School Planning & Success Toolkit for even more great planning resources, printables, best practices, webinars, and more.