INDIANAPOLIS—Cohort members from Butler University’s educational leadership graduate program, the Experiential Program for Preparing School Principals (EPPSP), have announced the release of Blueprint 2020: A Guidebook for School Leaders Moving Forward. 

The resource guide is designed to support education leaders as they envision the reopening of schools for the 2020-21 academic year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Graduate students conducted research and met with locally and nationally recognized experts in the field of education, as well as prominent community members, researchers, and policy makers. Experts included:

• Katie Jenner, Senior Education Advisor to Governor Eric Holcomb
• David Marcotte, Executive Director of the Indiana Urban Schools Association 
• Christopher Lagoni, Executive Director of the Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association
• Patrick McAlister, Director of the Office of Education Innovation, Indianapolis Mayor’s Office 
• Lori Desautels, Butler University Assistant Professor, Educational Neuroscience
• Brandon Brown, CEO, The Mind Trust
• Phil Downs, Superintendent, Southwest Allen County Schools; IAPSS Indiana Superintendent of the Year

 

The graduate students formed teams to focus on different educational areas impacted by reopening, such as remediation, testing, equity, technology, athletics, community, instruction, and others. Based on the research and conversations, students proposed several key findings that school leaders can keep in mind as they move forward with their reopening plans. A few key recommendations include:

• Operations: Have a decision-making framework that suits the individual district.
• Finance: Utilize CARES Act funding to address pressing needs, and have a vision for how to budget when this resource is no longer available.
• International: Use case studies from other countries that have had successful responses in school environments. 
• Diagnostics/Assessment: Develop an assessment plan addressing student well-being, priority standards, and student growth.
• Technology: Urge state legislatures to make broadband internet a necessary utility to ensure access for all. 
• Remediation: Use a multi-tier system of supports (MTSS) in planning remediation, which all students will need at varying levels this year. 
• Parent Communication: Emphasize providing support and facilitating engagement with parents, rather than merely communicating with them, as parents are now partners more than ever.
• Equity: Do not create the students’ narratives for them. Take into account different experiences during shutdown, and account for culture, race, and financial background.

 

You can find the full EPPSP Blueprint here.

 

Media contact:
Chasadee Minton
Butler University College of Education
Program Coordinator, Marketing
cminton@butler.edu
317-940-9684