Special Resource Material Developed by the Center


Title: Turning a Project or Pilot into a Catalyst for Systemic Change and Sustainability

Description: New initiatives usually are developed and initially implemented as a pilot demonstration at one or more schools. This is particularly the case for new initiatives that are specially funded projects. For those involved in projects or piloting new school programs, a common tendency is to think about their work as a time limited demonstration. And, other school stakeholders also tend to perceive the work as temporary (e.g., ?It will end when the grant runs out.? or ?I?ve seen so many reforms come and go; this too shall pass.?). This mind set leads to the view that new activities will be fleeting, and it contributes to fragmented approaches and the arginalization of initiatives. It also works against the type of systemic changes needed to sustain and expand major school improvements.

Access at:   http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/catalyst.pdf  43k; 6pp