Strategic action plans for school improvement: an exploratory study about quality indicators for school improvement plan evaluation

School strategic planning and strategic action plans (SAPs) are considered relevant tools for school improvement. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying quality indicators for school SAPs and test their utility in the Portuguese context. By using a qualitative content analysis throughout diverse data sources (plans of Portuguese schools, national guidelines, and educational literature), a grid with quality indicators for school improvement plan analysis was designed. Nine quality indicators guided the analysis of 663 SAPs of Portuguese schools. Results indicated that plans lack relevant quality dimensions, which are more of a description or a list of actions than a tool that supports the strategic action of a given school. Notwithstanding, plans are aligned with national policies and provide meaningful and relevant information to guide plan implementation. The findings of this study are anticipated to derive implications for policies, practices, and research related to school improvement.