Implementation

Because of the variety in proven interventions, states and communities have leeway to find programs that suit local values, opportunities and budgets. The key is to select strategies that have documented effectiveness, assure that they are implemented well and recognize the critical importance of a strong commitment to continuous program improvement.

• Match expectations with sufficient resources.  Be clear about the goals, purpose and target audience for specific programs.  Provide sufficient resources to ensure fidelity to the evidence-based model or modify expectations to accommodate variances.

• Identifying barriers.  Effective policy development requires the identification of factors that may impede effective implementation.

• Make provisions for broad-based input.  When involvement will increase the likelihood that the needs of children and families are being met by the policy, engage community stakeholders (children and youth, parents, schools, providers, and local farmers and retailers) in implementation.

• Support local capacity and communication. Provide technical assistance, monitoring and oversight to local programs and agencies.  Create opportunities for local-to-local communication, best practices sharing and local input on state policy decisions.

• Support ongoing evaluation and continuous program improvement.  

Every state’s higher education system is different. Leadership for implementation can come from statewide coordinating boards that provide broad policy guidance for a state, from governing boards that directly manage a higher education system, from state legislatures or passionate legislative leaders, or from governors, whose support is often critical to any successful initiative, even if it originates elsewhere.

Communications is also part of a strong implementation plan. Targeted communications strategies like the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ Returning Adults to Progress in Degree Completion Program (RAPID) grant and Oklahoma’s Reach Higher Degree Completion Program are statewide outreach campaigns that offer information on how students can complete degrees in a timely manner.

Finally, external experts or national organizations can offer powerful resources. The Pathways to College Network is an alliance of national organizations that advance college opportunity for underserved students so that all students, especially those underrepresented in postsecondary education, can achieve their educational dreams. 

The National Center for Academic Transformation promotes course redesign that can both improve quality and reduce cost.  States and institutions are also exploring ways to reduce costs in other areas, ranging from athletics programs to health care benefits, in order to protect expenditures on student instruction.