2022 – 2023 Back to School: A Practice Guide
School leaders in today’s educational environment recognize that the school year does not begin on the first day of classes. It starts with careful planning months in advance. Now more than ever, with school disruptions, it is critical to put in place educational tools and supports for students as soon as possible.
Here are some suggestions for back-to-school preparations
Enrollment & Academic Data
To effectively support students starting on day one, it is important for administrators to anticipate the total enrollment at school and by grade level. Having a complete picture of each student’s most recent academic data is also crucial.
Student data helps to determine not just how individual students are progressing but also how subgroups (e.g., Bilingual/ESL, Special Education, Gifted and Talented) of students are doing.
This information impacts budget allocations, staffing decisions, and scheduling.
Budgeting & Purchasing
Budget responsibilities of a school administrator include purchasing instructional resources and securing the right number of materials for students and teaching personnel. When administrators have a solid understanding of key student data, they can make informed decisions about the best, high-quality core and supplemental educational products. Additionally, administrators can determine whether differentiated materials, such as standards-based resources for on-, above-, and below-grade level is needed for students.
Administrators may begin buying educational equipment, resources, services, and supplies on July 1 or September 1, depending on when the new fiscal year begins.
Inventory & Storage
Instructional material storage areas can quickly get out of control if they are not prioritized. The end of the school year is the perfect time for administrators to take inventory and reorganize storage areas so new materials can be received efficiently during the summer.
- Arranging materials based on grade levels and subject areas.
- Placing materials that will be distributed at the start of the school year in an easy-to-access location.
- Clearly labeling storage areas for quick access.
Collaboration with key instructional staff during the summer months offers opportunities for collaboration to review student data, budget priorities, and curriculum materials distribution.
- Finalizing student lists
- Confirming staff schedules
- Reviewing Campus Improvement Plan
- Discussing new programs
Strategic Calendar
The school calendar for 2022–2023 is another important topic for collaboration that deserves an in-depth look. A strategic calendar is essential to getting things done in the new school year.
It is important to review and adjust the calendar on a regular basis to plan school events and activities, such as teacher planning times, parent-teacher conferences, and Back-to-School nights.
Having an updated, visible, and organized calendar makes the school run more smoothly.
Communication Strategy
Communication is essential for an administrator to connect students, teachers, families, and other stakeholders to the school’s mission. It is important to determine how, when, and to whom information will be shared.
Below are a few Back-to-School communication items that can help start the year off right:
- Staff Welcome Letter
- Parent Welcome Letter
- School Announcements
- First Campus-Wide Assembly
