Academic and Program Strategy
With over a combined 140 years of experience leading and sustaining great schools, districts, and charter networks, Bellwether’s Academic and Program Strategy team helps school systems achieve their goals and expand their impact. We offer a range of services to support system leaders, school leaders, and the students they serve, working closely with our clients to customize and implement data-driven, actionable plans that accelerate student success.Â
Our Work
Our diverse team members have firsthand knowledge of what it takes to run great school districts and school networks as well as how to sustain thriving school communities through ongoing operations and planning.
Our large team offers tailored support for:
- Charter Schools
- Charter Networks
- Charter Management Organizations
- School Districts
- Individual Schools
- Cohorts
- Individual Leaders
- Funders
- State Education Agencies
We can help with:
- New School Planning: We help new schools build programs that center student success and implement those action plans.
- School Redesign: We help established schools close the gap between students’ current performance and their potential.
- School Improvement: We help high-performing schools go from good-to-great by codifying and strengthening their existing systems.
- Network Expansion: We help networks add quality seats to their classrooms and maximize their impact in communities.
- Curriculum Support: We help schools develop instructional visions and implement curricula that meet the needs of every learner.
- Executive Coaching: We help leaders implement new strategies and build a culture of data-driven reflection and learning.
- Equity / Access and Outcome Audits: We help organizations examine their policies, programs, and practices to ensure fairness and accessibility.
- School / Network / District Health Assessments: We help school systems evaluate their key strengths and areas of opportunity to understand the best path forward.
We can help with immediate needs and challenges as well as provide support over the long term.
Our Impact
APS has worked with more than 100 districts, charter networks, and individual schools across the country, including:
Texas Education Agency
As part of the Texas Education Agency’s Resilient Schools Support Program, we provided support including strategic planning, instructional coaching, curriculum implementation, and professional learning community facilitation to four districts and six charter networks across the state. Over the course of four years, we focused on improving student outcomes through an inclusive approach that involved broader school communities — particularly campus leaders, teachers, and families.
Opportunity 180 and Clark County School District, Nevada
We partnered with Opportunity 180 to support several Clark County School District middle school leadership teams and develop their three-year strategic plans. The five-month cohort planning process included extensive engagement with teachers, families, and students to develop each school’s vision and priorities. We then provided 11 months of one-on-one coaching and implementation support for each school leader in the network.
Dove Schools, Oklahoma
We partnered with Dove Schools to create a five-year strategic plan that would strengthen their academic programs across Tulsa and Oklahoma City. As Dove expanded, we supported Dove in creating a growth plan and multi-year financial model. We also helped the network create a cohesive K-12 literacy plan and provided comprehensive literacy training to Dove leaders and instructional coaches.Â
Partner With Us
We partner with a wide range of clients — from large-scale foundations to school districts to nonprofits to mission-driven companies. Let’s work together to transform education.
