Alt+Shift utilizes a phased approach to partnerships with Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) to strengthen their capacity to sustain implementation efforts at member districts and ISD programs, yielding improved outcomes for all learners.

Achieving ISD-wide implementation of practices demands sustained, intense commitment from leadership and staff.  It also requires consistent resources like budget, materials, technical assistance, and personnel. This work is complex and will never be complete, but significant progress can be made with good systems and practices. Lesser efforts will fall short.

Partnering to address complex work can yield significant outcomes:

• System-wide Impact
  • All students benefit from effective practices.
• Systemic Support and Direction
  • A cohesive system supports every student.
• Sustainable Practices
  • Practices become integral to the educational culture.
• Support for Adults
  • Staff receive the support they need for effective implementation.

Ready to explore partnership?

Submit the Partnership Inquiry Form to initiate a conversation about the partnership process.

Alt+Shift utilizes a four-phase approach to partnership.  Each phase addresses partnership (between Alt+Shift and the ISD and between the ISD and districts/programs), collective action planning, training, and sustainability.

Throughout the phases, Alt+Shift and the ISD will utilize these key components to:

• Initiate Partnership
  • ISDs apply and engage in discussions.
  • Align visions.
• Establish the ISD Implementation Team
  • Include diverse perspectives.
  • Take responsibility for the success and failure of the effort.
• Co-Create Action Plans
  • Alt+Shift co-constructs or identifies action plans with ISDs.
  • Focus on implementing and sustaining evidence-based practices.
• Identify Implementation Cohorts
  • ISDs partner with districts and programs.
  • Establish implementation teams and co-construct innovative supports.
• Set the Stage through Training
  • Alt+Shift delivers training.
  • Alt+Shift equips ISDs to train future cohorts through the Course Trainer Institute.
• Initiate Support and Coaching
  • Develop robust support systems.
  • Receive and provide coaching at every step.
• Focus on Lasting Impact
  • Embed sustainability into plans.
  • Ongoing support and resources from Alt+Shift.

Each of the key components of partnership are addressed in each phase.

The exact structure of partnership is individualized to each ISD, however a general outline of the approach might look like this:

Phase 1: Readiness

• Form ISD team
• Develop or utilize existing collective action plan
• Recruit district/building partner
• Examine feasibility for training

Phase 2: Roll Out

• Convene ISD Implementation Team monthly
• Implement ISD action plan
• Form District/Building Implementation Team
• Alt+Shift provides training to first district/building cohort

Phase 3: Strong Start

• ISD Implementation Team continues to meet monthly
• District/Building Implementation Team(s) meet monthly
• Action plans are implemented and modified as indicated by data
• Alt+Shift provides Course Trainer Institutes to train ISD trainers

Phase 4: Sustain the Effort

• ISD and District/Building Implementation Teams meet monthly
• Ongoing use of action plans to move toward goal of sustained systemic implementation
• New district/building cohorts are identified
• ISD trainers provide training to new training cohorts.

Capacity structures are critical to meaningful implementation efforts. Alt+Shift collaborates with ISDs to create, strengthen, and install these structures through collective action planning. ISDs then partner with member districts and programs to extend these efforts.

• Prioritization and Selection
  • Align initiatives with needs, vision, and current work.
  • Maintain focus and resourcing throughout implementation.
• Implementation Team Meetings
  • Regular meetings with clear agendas and goals.
  • Develop ISD capacity for sustainable implementation.
• Data Plan
  • Collect and use reliable data for informed decision-making.
• Training Plan
  • Comprehensive training for all staff.
  • Ensure consistency and effectiveness in implementation.
• Job-Embedded Support
  • Regular support and feedback for implementers.
• Barrier Resolution
  • Document and address technical and adaptive barriers.
• Positive Relationships
  • Build trust, vulnerability, and collaboration within and between teams.
• Communication Plan
  • Two-way communication to keep stakeholders informed and involved.
• Resource Allocation
  • Provide necessary materials, time, personnel, and financial resources.
• Partnership Agreements
  • Clear roles, services, and expectations for mutual understanding and commitment.

Administrators are essential to creating systems that support implementation or improvement efforts.

Participate in the Implementation Effort

The ISD Director of Special Education will be included in all components of the partnership.  For Foundations of Math, the ISD Director of Curriculum and Instruction will also be part of the partnership.

ISD directors attend all:

• Partnership exploration meetings in their entirety.
• ISD Implementation Team meetings.*
• Training sessions.*

*If the director cannot attend, he/she/they designates someone else who is directly connected to the work who can approve resource-allocations, and set priorities for staff.

ISD directors dedicate staff time to:

• Attend training sessions.
• Lead the effort within the ISD.
• Participate in implementation support activities, such as collaborative planning time, group coaching, etc.

Additional expectations:

• Set a dedicated, standing meeting time for the ISD Implementation Team every 30-60 days.
• Ensure allocation of financial resources to support and sustain the effort.
• Establish the effort as a priority and champion the work.
• Establish a partnership with a member district or ISD program in the same way the ISD is partnering with Alt+Shift.

Form the Implementation Team

ISD administration and/or designees will select team members.  See “Forming the Implementation Team” for more guidance.

Select member districts and/or ISD programs to receive training

The ISD identifies at least one partnering member district or program who will receive the training and engage in implementation. The ISD meets with this group in 30-60 day cycles to develop a collective action plan focused on utilizing systems that support sustainable implementation of evidence-based practices throughout the district or program. The team monitors progress toward the goals contained in that plan.

The ISD implementation team will include

• ISD stakeholders
• Director of Special Education and/or Director of Curriculum and Instruction
• Member district/ISD program personnel
• An Alt+Shift specialist is part of the team through initial implementation

Ensure that all needed perspectives are represented on the implementation team.  This means involving those that are affected by or have an interest in the implementation effort.  Including these perspectives can

• Lead to a more effective implementation effort
• Improve community support and buy-in
• Generate more ideas and possible solutions to problems as they arise
• Build a better understanding of the context in which the effort is being implemented

The implementation team collaborates to create or utilize systems that strengthen partnership with member districts and ISD programs to sustainably implement evidence-based practices. Each member is an equal partner. 

Team members are expected to:

• Participate in the full initial training.
• Participate in all team meetings in their entirety.  Meetings may be in person or virtual.
• Ensure that technology and/or classroom coverage is set up to support participation.
• Respond to requests for feedback by the given date.
• Contribute individual expertise to meetings.
• Complete assigned tasks and action items by the given date.

Here are some examples of processes to use for analyzing and identifying stakeholders: