Skip to main content
Review | Acta Pedagogia Asiana | Volume 5 - Issue 2 - 2026 | 240–261 | https://doi.org/10.53623/apga.v5i2.1102
© 2026 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

School Improvement Planning: A Review of Strategic Processes, Data Use, and Monitoring Practices in the Philippines and Beyond

Author(s): Jane A. Panerio
Author(s) information:
Department of Teacher Education, College of Teacher Education, Surigao del Norte State University, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Philippines

Corresponding author

Acta Pedagogia Asiana

Volume 5 - Issue 2 - 2026

 About the journal
Submit your article

School improvement planning (SIP) is a key strategy for enhancing educational quality worldwide, emphasizing data-driven decision-making, strategic goal-setting, and continuous monitoring. In the Philippines, SIP is guided by the Department of Education framework, while international practices provided valuable insights into effective planning and monitoring systems. This review synthesized literature on strategic processes, data utilization, goal-setting, and monitoring practices, comparing Philippine and international experiences. An integrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, policy documents, and reports retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, Google Scholar, and ProQuest, covering publications from 2010 to 2025. The findings showed that effective SIP relied on systematic planning cycles, SMART goal-setting, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based decision-making. Data, including student performance, attendance, and school climate, were crucial for informed planning, while continuous monitoring and evaluation supported iterative improvements. Philippine practices aligned with global trends but faced challenges related to resource availability, leadership capacity, and data management systems. Strengthening school data systems, developing leadership capacity, and promoting collaborative planning were recommended. Future research should explore the empirical effectiveness of SIP implementation and conduct comparative studies across educational systems to identify best practices.

Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

Leithwood, K.; Harris, A.; Hopkins, D. (2019). Seven strong claims about successful school leadership revisited. School Leadership and Management, 39, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2018.1453788.

Bryson, J.M. (2018). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations, 5th ed.; Wiley: Hoboken, NJ, USA.

Hallinger, P. (2011). Leadership for learning: Lessons from 40 years of empirical research. Journal of Educational Administration, 49, 125–142. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578231111116699.

Hamilton, L.; Halverson, R.; Jackson, S.; Mandinach, E.; Supovitz, J.; Wayman, J. (2009). Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making; U.S. Department of Education: Washington, DC, USA.

Harris, A. (2020). Leading School Improvement; Routledge: London, UK.

Wilcox, G.; Fernandez Conde, C.; Kowbel, A. (2021). Using Evidence-Based Practice and Data-Based Decision Making in Inclusive Education. Education Sciences, 11, 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11030129.

Department of Education (DepEd). (2016). School Improvement Planning Guidebook; DepEd: Pasig City, Philippines.

Datnow, A.; Park, V. (2018). Professional Collaboration with Purpose: Teacher Learning toward Equitable and Excellent Schools; Routledge: New York, NY, USA.

OECD. (2019). School Evaluation: Policy and Practice; OECD Publishing: Paris, France.

Sahlberg, P. (2015). Finnish Lessons 2.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland?; Teachers College Press: New York, NY, USA.

Marzano, R.J. (2015). School Leadership That Works: From Research to Results; ASCD: Alexandria, VA, USA.

Stoll, L. (2015). Three greats for a self-improving school system: Pedagogy, professional development and leadership. London Centre for Leadership in Learning.

Cohen, J.; McCabe, L.; Michelli, N.; Pickeral, T. (2009). School climate: Research, policy, practice, and teacher education. Teachers College Record, 111, 180–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810911100108.

Popham, W.J. (2017). Classroom Assessment: What Teachers Need to Know, 8th ed.; Pearson: Boston, MA, USA.

Ponomariovienė, J.; Jakavonytė-Staškuvienė, D. (2024). Solutions for Independent Goal Setting and Implementation of Primary School Students Fostering the Competence of Learning to Learn. Education Sciences, 14, 368. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14040368.

OECD. (2016). Improving Schools in Australia: Policy Insights and International Perspectives; OECD Publishing: Paris, France.

Department of Education (DepEd). (2019). Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads; DepEd: Pasig City, Philippines.

Stoll, L.; Bolam, R.; McMahon, A.; Wallace, M.; Thomas, S. (2015). Professional learning communities: A review of the literature. Journal of Educational Change, 16, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-006-0001-8.

Verano, V.S.; Agrazamendez, D.D.; Sarazain, K.S.; Bauyot, M. (2024). Strategic planning and management practices on quality education enhancement. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. VIII(IIIS), 2358−2366. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.803173S.

Balanay, R.M.; Aguilos, N.Z.A.M.; Aguilos, M.M.; Guinancias, A.R.; Seronay, R.A.; Tangcogo, F.B. (2025). Community Well-Being and Willingness as Key Drivers of Watershed Conservation in Mt. Magdiwata Watershed and Forest Reserve in Northeastern Mindanao, Philippines. Conservation, 5, 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation5030053.

Ng, P.T. (2019). School improvement strategies in Singapore: Data-driven leadership and professional learning. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 39, 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2019.1622954.

Page, M.J.; McKenzie, J.E.; Bossuyt, P.M. et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n71.

Day, C.; Gu, Q.; Sammons, P. (2016). Leadership and student outcomes. Educational Administration Quarterly, 52(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X15616863.

Creemers, B.P.M.; Kyriakides, L. (2010). Using the Dynamic Model to develop an evidence-based and theory-driven approach to school improvement. Irish Educational Studies, 29(1), 5–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/03323310903522669.

Stoll, L. (2009). Capacity building for school improvement or creating capacity for learning? A changing landscape. Journal of Educational Change, 10(2-3), 115–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-009-9104-3.

Harris, A. (2020). Leading school and system improvement: Why context matters. European Journal of Education, 55(2), 143–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12393.

New Pedagogies for Deep Learning and Microsoft Education. (accessed on 1 March 2026) Available online: https://info.microsoft.com/AU-WWEDU-CNTNT-FY21-07Jul-12-RemotetoHybridLearning-SRGCM3605_01Registration-ForminBody.html.

Harris, A.; Jones, M. (2020). COVID 19 – school leadership in disruptive times. School Leadership & Management, 40(4), 243–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2020.1811479.

Brown, C.; Schildkamp, K.; Hubers, M.D. (2017). Combining the best of two worlds: a conceptual proposal for evidence-informed school improvement. Educational Research, 59(2), 154–172. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2017.1304327.

Brown, C.; Flood, J. (2020). The three roles of school leaders in maximizing the impact of Professional Learning Networks: A case study from England. International Journal of Educational Research, 99, 101516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2019.101516.

Nguyen, D.; Harris, A.; Ng, D. (2019). A review of the empirical research on teacher leadership (2003–2017). Journal of Educational Administration, 58(1), 60–80. https://doi.org/10.1108/jea-02-2018-0023.

Kools, M.; Stoll, L.; George, B.; Steijn, B.; Bekkers, V.; Gouëdard, P. (2020). The school as a learning organisation: The concept and its measurement. European Journal of Education, 55(1), 24–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12383.

Hallinger, P.; Kovačević, J. (2019). Science mapping the knowledge base in educational leadership and management: A longitudinal bibliometric analysis, 1960 to 2018. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 49, 174114321985900. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143219859002.

Gumus, S.; Bellibas, M.S.; Esen, M.; Gumus, E. (2018). A systematic review of studies on leadership models in educational research from 1980 to 2014. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 46(1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143216659296.

Successful School Leadership. (accessed on 1 March 2026) Available online: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED614324.

Ng, D.F.S.; Wong, C.P. (2020). The role of school leadership in Singapore’s future‐ready school reform. European Journal of Education, 55(2), 183–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12392.

Lee, C.; Camburn, E.M.; Sebastian, J. (2024). School context, school leaders’ data-informed decision making, and student achievement: evidence from Florida. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 36(1), 1 https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2024.2436889.

Jin, R.; Peng, Y.; Wang, Z.; Wang, J.; Tang, J.; Zhang, M. (2025). Data-Driven Educational Decision-Making: How to Enhance Educational Quality and Management Efficiency. Journal of Higher Education Research, 5(6), 550–550. https://doi.org/10.32629/jher.v5i6.3385.

Rohmah, I.I.; Rofiq, A.; Ihwan, M.B. (2025). Data Driven Educational Planning Strategy: Examining Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Era. Electronic Journal of Education Social Economics and Technology, 6(1), 327–336. https://doi.org/10.33122/ejeset.v6i1.438.

White, R.; Lowery, C.; Johnson, J. (2025). Enhancing high-quality education through systemic school leadership: a systematic review. 2(1), 227–244. https://doi.org/10.1108/qea-09-2024-0096.

Leger, M.-L.; Gomez, L.M. (2025). Helping school leaders see variation and build the capability to improve complex systems. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1503871.

Using Data-Driven Decision-Making to Guide Instructional Strategies in the Classroom: A School Improvement Plan. (accessed on 1 March 2026) Available online: https://nwcommons.nwciowa.edu/education_masters/626/.

Meyers, C.V.; VanGronigen, B.A. (2025). A Systematic Literature Review on the Development and Implementation of School Improvement Plans (SIPs) Around the World. Education Sciences, 15(12), 1708–1708. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15121708.

Dalelo, D.; Amare, M.; Chinasho, G. (2025). Strategic plan formulation process in the secondary schools of sodo town administration, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101315.

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 07 March 2026
ACCEPTED: 15 May 2026
PUBLISHED: 28 May 2026
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 69 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/apga.v5i2.1102

Cite this article
Panerio, J. A. (2026). School Improvement Planning: A Review of Strategic Processes, Data Use, and Monitoring Practices in the Philippines and Beyond. Acta Pedagogia Asiana, 5(2), 240–261. https://doi.org/10.53623/apga.v5i2.1102
Citations
0
Share this article