To achieve a new vision focused on student learning, what should be the first step for extending learning time?

The first step in extending learning time to achieve a new vision focused on student learning should involve analyzing student assessment data for intervention impacts. This approach is crucial because understanding the current educational landscape through data allows school leaders to identify specific areas where students are struggling and which interventions have been effective. By evaluating this data, leaders can make informed decisions on how to optimize extended learning opportunities, ensuring that they address the needs of students most effectively.

By focusing on data analysis first, principals can tailor their strategies based on actual student performance and learning outcomes. This foundation ensures that any new programs or initiatives introduced in the extended learning time are grounded in evidence of what works. Effective decision-making around extended learning is not just about increasing time but understanding the purpose of that time as it relates to improving student learning.

In contrast, other options, while also potentially important steps in the process, do not prioritize the foundational knowledge necessary to guide the development of effective extended learning time strategies. Creating a detailed master schedule or contacting external providers can still happen after understanding the needs derived from data analysis. Similarly, surveying teachers about course preferences will be more meaningful if it is based on a clear understanding of student needs and intervention impacts gleaned from data.