Year of Planning

Before opening their doors to students, all NAF academies take part in a structured Year of Planning (YOP) with assigned regional representatives from NAF.

The YOP process involves activities to align resources and programs prior to implementation. This process greatly increases the likelihood that a new Academy will  fulfill its promise to students and stakeholders.

Those accepted for the YOP gain access to:

• A guided self-assessment process that informs, troubleshoots, and directs the work of advance program planning and development; and
• Benefits that come with membership in the national network of NAF academies, including technical assistance from NAF, professional development activities, use of the Academy curriculum, and more.

To be accepted for the YOP, assembled stakeholders – called Academy Design Teams – engage in a process with NAF that includes several stages of planning:

• Stage 1 leads planning teams through the early process of deciding whether to pursue reform and whether the NAF approach is appropriate. Teams access background information and research findings on career academies and NAF.
• Stage 2 provides tools to lead teams through the all-important process of team building, and provides a list of key stakeholders who must be involved. Teams access guidelines for how to move forward with the creation of a NAF-supported career academy.
• Stage 3 describes the Year of Planning (YOP) proposal, which is required for teams to be accepted for the YOP. Teams access an overview of NAF curriculum.
• Stage 4 provides teams with the necessary financial and systems processes and tools to commit to the career academy approach. Teams access templates, best practices, skills, and support to move into the YOP implementation phase.
• Stage 5 represents the Year of Planning. NAF’s YOP Guidebook steers academy design teams through the process of developing their NAF academy by identifying decisions and outcomes in a timely manner. Academy design teams, working within their own YOP small-learning community, provide evidence and documentation of progress through YOP Portfolios.
• Stages 6–7 represent the continued development and growth for NAF academies that have graduated from the YOP and launched career academies. Academy design teams continue to work with NAF through regional meetings, national conferences, and ongoing technical assistance.

Once schools have completed the Year of Planning, they may go back and forth among stages to address issues described in earlier phases of development. This is a normal process, especially in the event of leadership and staffing changes.