Cognia Strategic Thinking and Planning Shows Promising Results

Instead of simply coming in and telling institutions what to focus on and how to improve, Cognia works collaboratively and guides leaders and leadership teams to collaborate, reflect, and integrate new processes into successful existing practices, building on what works.

In a recent satisfaction survey, participants from one district that engaged in our Strategic Thinking and Planning Process expressed that the session was engaging (3.8 average rating out of 4), relevant to their work (3.9 average rating out of 4), and helped to improve their knowledge and skills to implement what they learned (3.8 average rating out of 4). When asked about the particular areas of strength in the session, one participant responded, “The session provided a safe space for all stakeholders to collaborate.”

Whether institutional leaders choose to have Cognia experts facilitate the process or engage in the process asynchronously with resources available to them, the Cognia Strategic Thinking and Planning Process is designed to be responsive to an institution’s needs and the current trends and issues in education. With this holistic approach, we seek to move schools beyond simple compliance towards sustainable, long-term improvement.

A Framework for Sustainable Improvement

The research-based Strategic Thinking and Planning framework incorporates four interconnected phases that create a continuous improvement cycle:

• The envisioning phase begins with gathering and analyzing data.
• During the planning phase, schools develop specific, actionable strategies.
• Implementation moves plans into action through a structured approach.
• The evaluation phase assesses progress on current initiatives and informs the next improvement planning cycle.

Our Research with Instructure

A recent study of Florida schools demonstrates that Cognia’s structured approach to strategic planning and improvement can lead to significant positive outcomes for students. The third-party study, analyzing data from 2021-2024, found that schools implementing the Cognia Strategic Thinking and Planning process showed improvements in K-12 students’ behavior, as well as eighth graders’ academic performance. Instructure’s research team examined outcomes across 29 schools serving over 10,500 students, yielding Cognia’s Level III (Promising Evidence) classification under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) evidence requirements.

The Broader Context of School Improvement

The Cognia Strategic Thinking and Planning Process is a thoughtful and accessible approach to school improvement planning. Traditional improvement efforts often focus on isolated initiatives or compliance-driven changes. In contrast, Cognia recognizes that sustainable improvement requires a systemic approach that addresses both immediate needs and long-term aspirations. The process draws on decades of research on organizational improvement in education and other sectors. This research consistently shows that successful change requires several key elements: collective effort and commitment, context-specific adaptation, and ongoing data collection and examination. Substantial change often emerges from smaller improvements that build upon each other over time. With Cognia’s support, all schools can embrace this approach.

Looking Ahead

While the study showed promising results, particularly in eighth-grade academic performance and K-12 student behavior, researchers noted opportunities for future investigation. Additional research could explore outcomes in different grade levels and across diverse regional contexts and examine the long-term sustainability of improvements.

For schools and districts looking to enhance their improvement efforts, this evidence reveals that investing in a structured, stakeholder-engaged strategic planning process can yield meaningful results. The key lies in comprehensive implementation, consistent monitoring, and a commitment to data-driven decision-making. The full study and its findings not only validate the Strategic Thinking and Planning Process as an effective approach to school improvement but also provide a roadmap for other schools seeking to achieve similar positive outcomes in student behavior and academic performance.

For more information on how to leverage Cognia’s proven process in your school or district, talk to your local Cognia representative or visit Cognia.org.

Read the entire Instructure study on Cognia Strategic Thinking and Planning.

Monica Blomker is Vice President of Research & Analytics at Cognia. The former math teacher and consultant previously served as the Executive Director of Accountability for the state of Oklahoma. Ms. Blomker holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Colorado and a Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of West Florida. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas, with expected completion in Summer 2025.

Nicole Reeves, Ed.D. serves as Senior Director Professional Learning for Cognia. Nicole’s dissertation work involved deep exploration into professional learning – specifically the principal’s role in monitoring and evaluating professional development implementation. Dr. Reeves uses her experience as an educator and educational leader and her experiences working with leaders and educators in all aspects of continuous improvement to provide practical solutions to challenging problems. A professional trainer, presenter, and facilitator, Dr. Reeves has facilitated many active work sessions for teachers, administrators, and board-level personnel at all levels in various types of educational institutions. In addition to 24 years of service in schools she has 32 years of experience in education. She earned both her bachelor's in special education and elementary education and master's in Education and Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Leadership with a focus in Instructional Leadership from American College of Education in Indianapolis, Indiana.