P-16 Strategic Planning: A Texas PilotWhat Was Planned and What Actually Happened

Dr. R.B. (Bob) WilkinsonDirector, Analysis, Planning, and AssessmentPittsburg State University

Senior Research ScholarEducational Policy Institute

Elizabeth StanleyDirector of Student Persistence and SuccessTG

My task today

1. Define critical terms

2. Walk you through the process we used

3. Show you the plans that were developed

4. Talk about the lessons we learned

The P-16 concept defined

Strategic planning defined

• Strategic planning is:

– A systematic, ongoing and cyclical process with a built-in annual reporting cycle and direct linkages to institutional resources and assessment.

– A collaborative process whereby all institutional constituents are involved in deciding how the institution should respond to external conditions.

– Future-oriented, lasting 10,15, 20 years or more.

Terms/concepts

• Collaboration means that all involved shareholders cooperate. Collaboration means that all constituents are actively involved and cooperating with each other to achieve a common goal.

• Transparency means that everyone sees everything; there are no hidden agendas and all data and information are available to everyone.

• Consensus means that everyone eventually agrees to every aspect of

the plan. It means that the primary decision makers are involved. It means that negotiating to get agreement is pivotal to the success of the planning process and the plan itself.

Terms/concepts

• Access means that everyone, regardless of age, ability, or resources has access to the appropriate level of education. No one is limited except by his or her own desires. Access is more than the ability to attend; it is receiving the necessary support to be successful.  

• Seamlessness means that individuals can enter the educational pipeline at various points and progress through the pipeline unhindered. They have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful at the next level, and they can move through the pipeline unhindered by rules, bureaucracy, or financial constraints.  

Terms/concepts

• Career- and college-ready means that when students leave high school they have the skills, knowledge, and abilities to enter either postsecondary education or work. It has to be recognized that not everyone will go to college, but the focus has to be on increasing the college-going rate while also preparing high school graduates for entry into the workforce.

Planning elements

•The plan to plan

•Formal/informal expectations

•Philosophical underpinnings

•Mission

•S.W.O.T.

•Vision

•Goals

• Objectives

• Strategies

• Performance indicators

Phase I

Phase III

Phase IV

Phase II

Phase V

Phase VI

Strategic planning elements

Proposed final product

• Upon completion of this pilot, two P–16 councils were to have created strategic plans that would guide their P–16 initiatives and incorporate the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Closing the Gaps goals. The planning documents were to have the following sections:

The proposed process

• Four full-day working meetings spanning a four-month period

–First meeting – Finding common ground

–Second meeting – Finding focus

–Third meeting – Making the plan operational

–Fourth meeting – Getting underway

• Between meetings, the facilitator and council members would complete specific tasks (homework).

The proposed process

• Purpose of the process –Build P-16 strategic plans

–Build consensus

–Facilitate the building of the necessary relationships and open the channels of communication

The first meeting

• Theme: Finding common ground– The first meeting should be a full day divided into discrete

working sessions and group reporting. The outcomes should include:

• A formal statement of purpose for the P–16 council• Core beliefs • A vision statement • A rough S.W.O.T. analysis

The second meeting

• Theme: Finding focus– The purpose of the second day-long meeting is to:

• Gain consensus on the statement of purpose, core beliefs, vision and the S.W.O.T. analysis, and

• Develop five strategic goals.

The third meeting

• Theme: Making the plan operational– The purpose of the third daylong meeting is to:

• Gain consensus on the work completed,• Break the five strategic goals down into achievable

objectives, and • Identify who should be responsible for each goal and objective

and start identifying strategies.

The fourth meeting

•Theme: Getting underway– The purpose of the fourth meeting is to gain final

consensus on the plan and commence implementation. This is achieved by:

• Finalizing the strategies,• Finalizing who will oversee which goal and objective, and• Identifying the first steps to be implemented.

The two P-16 councils

• The Centroplex P-16 Cooperative is located in Central Texas and is chaired by the deputy chancellor for educational program and support services at Central Texas College (CTC).

• Composed of:– Central Texas public secondary and postsecondary institutions

– The Workforce Board of Central Texas

– Superintendents of regional independent school districts

– The Central Texas Tech-Prep Consortium

– TEA’s Region XII Education Service Center

– The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

The two P-16 councils

• The San Angelo P-16 Council is a community-based council chaired by a local businessperson and sponsored by the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce.

• Composed of:– Business and education members (equally distributed)

– Pre-K, secondary, and postsecondary institutions

– TEA’s Region XV Education Service Center.

Location of P-16 initatives

• The Centroplex P-16 Cooperative covers Temple, Killeen, Cooperas Cove, Belton, and surrounding areas.

• The San Angelo P-16 Council covers San Angelo.

Similarities and differences

• San Angelo– The P–16 Council was citizen-based and initiated, but involved the

various education sectors.– The council was used as a vehicle for convening the appropriate

people to find common ground and direction, which would then lead to solutions.

– It was the result of citizens who wanted to see improvement. – The citizens (or taxpayers) sat with educators to find solutions

for improving education and enhancing opportunities for all.

Similarities and differences

• The Centroplex P–16 Cooperative– The Cooperative was comprised of all educators and job

preparation staff but had the formal blessing and support of the larger Partners in Education (community) group.

– No local community or business members participated in the Cooperative

– All members were involved because they truly felt that cooperation was the only path to improve education and enhance opportunity for all.

Similarities and differences

• A comparison of the belief statements in both of the strategic plans (Appendices A and B) demonstrates that the belief structures of both groups are quite similar. It is also important to note that the strategic goals, while worded differently, are essentially the same.

Centroplex Regional P–16 Cooperative

• Goal 1: Create one system marketing campaign to create awareness 

• Goal 2: Develop professional development plan for all stakeholders 

• Goal 3: Develop business and institution partnerships 

• Goal 4: Create a grant team to deal with funding 

• Goal 5: Create sustainability and the ability to replicate 

San Angelo P-16 + Educational Partnership

• Goal 1: Recognition of the San Angelo P–16 + Education Partnership at the state level

• Goal 2: Strengthen the San Angelo P–16 + Education Partnership

• Goal 3: Strengthen and expand community partnerships

• Goal 4: Create seamless transitions through the educational continuum

• Goal 5: Create a culture of educational excellence

Strategic goals

What we learned

• Leadership– Strong leadership is essential.

Civic leaders were not interested in why things were the way they were, and were not terribly interested in excuses for why things may or may not work. They wanted results and it was up to the educators to achieve them. The educators, on the other hand, were more cautious and reserved.

• Cooperation– The desire to cooperate is everything.

What we learned

• Consensus– Always seek consensus and do not stop until you get it.

• Membership– The concept of negotiation means that council membership

should be based on a member’s position of authority within a particular constituent group.

What we learned

• Inclusiveness and Transparency– Inclusion means that everyone is involved. Transparency

means that all data and information is readily available in forms that are easily understood, and that all processes and procedure are open for all to see.

• External Facilitator– If negotiating is the cornerstone to building consensus and

the process is inclusive and transparent, then it will take a disinterested third party to lead the initial planning process.

What we learned

• Recommendations for the planning facilitator– Be patient and let the process evolve 

– Provide time for random discussion

– Be inclusive to a fault

Questions?

This presentation is available for download at

www.tgslc.org/tgconference.