The experience of countless school developers—including districts, charters, and organizations that create new schools—shows that it takes time, usually a full year or more, to get ready to open a new school. The same is true for transforming an existing school, although the specific challenges are different. In fact, most experts say an extended period dedicated to planning is absolutely necessary for the implementation of a school design.

So, where do you start? Working backward from day one for students, think through the big milestones you need to hit, and by when. What do you need to have in place to hire a core staff and recruit and prepare faculty? To recruit and enroll students? To acquire or plan the right facility? What permissions and approvals do you need? When and how should you engage the community, the school board, local leaders? The milestones will be different for district schools and charter schools, and for new schools and redesigns. Your particular path will depend on a host of local factors, as well, which you need to understand in as much depth as possible.

You may want to build in time for prototyping ideas or piloting new systems, which many innovators find extremely valuable. Steps like these don’t slow down implementation; instead, they offer valuable opportunities to explore, reflect, and fine-tune ideas—so much so that they may even allow you to move more quickly. Could you try a specific innovation—like using time differently to deliver advanced courses—to learn about calendar flexibility? Could you create a summer program—maybe credit-bearing, community-based learning experiences—to learn about partnerships? A well-planned prototype, including data collection and time for reflection, can yield essential insights into the systemic changes you’ll need to make to implement at scale.

Another strategy that can be helpful is phasing in your vision over a few years. Some innovative schools start by implementing a new design with incoming students and building from there. Others develop a new program with a subgroup of students, such as seniors, and expand it from there. A phased approach can give you more time for intensive professional development, engaging students and families, and building up a cadre of committed partners.

And remember, no matter how carefully you plan, things won’t always go as anticipated. Your team will be managing lots of moving pieces and a number of contingencies, so unexpected things are bound to happen. Don’t get discouraged by the inevitable challenges you’ll face. With a solid plan and a resilient mindset, you’ll be able to respond well in any situation.