Initiatives and Policy Change in Schools are...

Culture change. That's what it is. When we mandate that new rules are to be followed, we are forcing a change in culture. When we introduce a tool or instructional technology we think is useful but adoption is abysmal, we've failed to realize that people are resistant to change and therefore the culture is resistant to change.

So how do we actually change culture? We can change all the people, but more often than not that decision costs more than it gives.

We can argue that change is better and force it on the organization, but we all know the result of people doing things differently "because they have to".

Maybe there's a third way.

We cannot be helped but be influenced by those around us. Reiterating the core values behind the initiative or institutional change, and then hiring and training an early majority to adopt the change will let the majority taste the fruits of change without changing themselves.

This is how ideas spread and products become home runs. Start in the long-tail, get together a group of early adopters to show the value of and advocate for the change. Let them be the evidence that change is good.

If there's actual value in the initiative or policy, eventually the majority will follow. The same principles apply in step-wise implementations of software, or geo-specific tests of new menu items by chain restaurants.

The best time to make something into standard policy is after the proof of concept and value's been shared with stakeholders.

Policies act as a filter. The people that are unwilling to follow can choose to leave the group. Combined with hiring people that are on board with the new culture, change is very possible over several years.