Include people in the process and take the time to explain the changes. In the community, this may mean providing opportunities for direct involvement in decision-making, community forums, and other strategies for parent education. In the school, this means learning together as a staff, where beliefs and practices are discussed and evaluated. Above all, create an environment where people feel safe taking the kinds of risks necessary to change classroom practice. Finally, be realistic.
Implementation requires planning, patience, time, and an understanding of the process of change.
Both respondent groups placed a major emphasis on planning at least one to two years in advance of implementation. As realists, one must recognize that ultimately it is people who are being asked to change. After all, most parents, students, teachers, and administrators have spent their entire lives in graded learning institutions. Putting a multiage program in place is easy compared to changing the way people think, especially when curriculum and the textbook industry are dominated by graded materials. Moreover, individuals vary in how readily they embrace new ideas, strategies, and practices.