Through our systems improvement and strategic planning services, we partner with LEAs, institutions of higher education, states, and Tribal governments to generate the conditions for equitable student learning experiences, opportunities, and outcomes.
Our approach to systems planning helps build effective organizational and policy structures, including finance, governance, and accountability, to support education and school-based health system improvement.
How We Help
Working closely with leaders and their communities, we determine how an educational system’s structures, policies, resources, and processes can more effectively serve its goals.
Our related services for K–12, early education, higher education, and Tribal systems include
- strategic planning/educational master planning;
- organizational reviews and change management;
- evaluations of educational systems, programs, and policies;
- accountability system design, evaluation, and implementation support; and
- review and streamlining of state reporting requirements to reduce administrative burden on states and school districts.
In addition, our team brings extensive expertise in applied research, partner engagement, work group facilitation and coordination, and continuous improvement. Through research and technical assistance, we support clients in transforming their systems to prioritize equity and advance positive outcomes for students and families.
Service Delivery
- Online, onsite, or hybrid
Who Will Benefit
- LEAs
- Institutions of higher education
- State agencies
- Tribal governments
We worked with the WestEd team on our Educational Master Plan—and it was an incredibly thoughtful and meaningful process. Exceedingly knowledgeable, organized, and highly responsive, the team made it easy for us to focus on ideas and goals. We are very satisfied with the outcome—and with our experience working with the team.
— Dr. Priscilla Mora, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Academic Affairs, Napa Valley College
Featured Experts
Kelsey Krausen
Lupita Cortez Alcalá
Niki Sandoval
Connecting Research With Practice
This section should briefly document the research foundations that are drawn upon for the formation and delivery of our service and/or a summary of the evidence of effectiveness.
WestEd’s customized systems planning support attends to key factors that research shows are instrumental in effective education systems, including educational policies, leadership, resource use, instructional quality, data collection and use, educator collaboration, organizational culture and environment, and family/community involvement.
Furthermore, rather than addressing individual factors and challenges in isolation, our team leverages a systems thinking approach, which considers and addresses the system as a whole. Systems thinking offers substantial benefits for managing improvement efforts within complex, dynamic, and interconnected systems such as health care and education (Ndaruhutse, 2019; Shaked & Schechter, 2020) and helps ensure that improvement efforts yield lasting, transformational change.
More Related to this Service
Insights & Impact
Resources
Browse our high-quality publications and resources designed to inform and engage professionals in a variety of fields including K–12 education, early childhood, and health and justice.
