TIME: 1 month

What We Did
In the first step of our project, we built a model to determine how much additional funding would be required to maintain access and improve quality.

We relied on several data gathering methods to quickly build our fact base. First, we conducted school visits to better understand the current state and to gather input from principals and pastors on how to react to environmental changes. Second, we analyzed prevailing conditions and trends in several school areas including enrollment, teaching, programs, finances, and achievement. Lastly, we looked for insights from education experts and other dioceses that were facing a similar situation.

What Resulted
Building a fact base helped us to focus our efforts on high-impact areas. Additionally, the process enhanced credibility with the client because we started to educate them about their organization.

What We Learned
The schools in the diocese were still attaining good results even with their limited resources. However, operational deficits, falling enrollment, teacher turnover, and program gaps were major hurdles to sustaining or enhancing current performance. Overcoming these challenges would require a significant budget increase for each school.