While providing applications is a core competency of the company, Edgenuity believes it is equally important to help districts develop a coherent strategy for instructional improvement. Based on cutting edge research on effective practices in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, the Edgenuity team translated and extended the research into a framework of six critical practices and 18 actionable processes that promote effective practice in the classroom. The SmartStart session uses this framework to examine current district efforts and the degrees of integration between departments and from the district to the classroom.

The SmartStart Session convenes a team of district leaders, site principals, and teacher leaders, to gather input from various parts of the organization. Each session involves a number of hands-on activities that engage participants in dialogue about the core processes of the framework to assess the district's current efforts. The goals of the session are to:

• EVALUATE current efforts and systems using a research-based framework for effective instructional processes
• ALIGN EXPECTATIONS across the district to ensure that all levels of the organization are engaged in reinforcing processes for achievement
• PRIORITIZE focus areas by looking at contributing factors that limit or prevent high quality implementation of effective practices
• ISOLATE FRAGMENTATION that results in costly rework, duplication of effort, or lost opportunities to identify and extend successful practices

As a result of the session, Edgenuity presents the district with an actionable report that highlight the strengths as well as areas the district should address to become instructionally effective. It also includes a copy of the framework, which can be used to evaluate different solutions, including applications, technologies, and professional development service providers. The framework also enables districts to communicate how different efforts can and should be connected, and how resources are best deployed to achieve improvement objectives.